卑劣

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 卑劣 is read as ひれつ and means “despicable” and “cowardly”.
• Basic usage: It describes a villain’s despicable tactic and condemns behavior targeting only the weak.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 卑劣な手段 / 行為を卑劣だと非難する
  • Use 卑劣な手段 attributively and 行為を卑劣だと非難する predicatively. It stresses cowardly, morally contemptible conduct.