卑下

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 卑下 (ひげ) is an action noun for speaking of or evaluating oneself as less capable or worthy than one is.
• Basic usage: 能力を卑下することはない discourages needless denigration of one’s ability, while 自分を卑下して笑いを取る uses self-deprecation as a public comic strategy.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Self-assessment and rhetorical strategy
  • 能力を卑下する is a value judgment, whereas 自分を卑下する is a performed lowering of oneself. The term is not identical to every modest factual statement.