Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Low, mean, base: Describes a person, their character, behavior, or social position that is considered morally inferior, contemptible, or lacking in dignity and honor.
   • Lowly, humble (in status): Refers to a social standing or condition that is of low rank, poor, or insignificant, often carrying a connotation of being looked down upon.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Hắn ta có những toan tính rất thấp hèn. (He has very base calculations.)
  • Bà ấy không bao giờ làm những việc thấp hèn. (She would never do mean things.)
  • Dù xuất thân từ gia cảnh thấp hèn, ông ấy đã vươn lên bằng nỗ lực. (Despite coming from a lowly background, he rose up through effort.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to express strong moral condemnation, often contrasting with ideals of nobility, integrity, or high-mindedness.
• Can describe abstract concepts like desires, motives, or actions ( - base desires), not just people.

Variants and Related Words

• Hèn hạ (adj): Despicable, vile, ignoble. Often stronger and more focused on moral degradation than .
  • Hành động phản bội bạn bè thật hèn hạ. (The act of betraying friends is truly despicable.)
• Ti tiện (adj): Mean, petty, shabby. Emphasizes pettiness and lack of scruples.
• Thấp kém (adj): Inferior, low-grade. More neutral, often used for quality or ability rather than moral character.

Synonyms

• Base: Lacking moral principles; ignoble.
• Mean: Lacking dignity or honor; petty.
• Lowly: Of low social status; humble.
• Ignoble: Not honorable in character or purpose.

Related Idioms

• Con người thấp hèn: A base/mean person.
  • Hắn là một con người thấp hèn, chỉ biết nghĩ đến lợi ích cá nhân. (He is a base person, only thinking of personal gain.)
• Sống một cuộc sống thấp hèn: To live a lowly/ignoble life.
  • Kẻ đó đã chọn sống một cuộc sống thấp hèn, lừa dối thiên hạ. (That person chose to live an ignoble life, deceiving people.)

adj

1. low, mean