YukaHave you ever heard someone describe behavior as 下品 (げひん) in Japanese? It means vulgar, crude, or rude — and it's a word that comes up a lot in everyday conversation!
ReiIn this lesson we'll break down 下品 — its meaning, usage patterns, and how it contrasts with its opposite 上品.
At a Glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Word | 下品 (げひん) |
| Meaning | Vulgar, crude, rude, indecent |
| Part of speech | na-adjective (形容動詞) |
| Opposite | 上品 (じょうひん) — refined, elegant |
| Register | Used in everyday speech and writing |
What Does 下品 Mean?
下品 (げひん) is a na-adjective describing something or someone as vulgar, crude, or lacking in refinement. The kanji literally means “low grade”: 下 (low/below) + 品 (quality/grade).
It can refer to crude language, offensive jokes, bad table manners, or tasteless behavior. The word carries a strong judgmental tone — saying something is 下品 is a clear expression of disapproval.
- Rude or offensive language: 下品な言葉
- Crude jokes or humor: 下品な冗談
- Vulgar behavior: 下品な行動
- Tasteless fashion: 下品な服装
Yuka下品な言葉を使わないでください。
Please don't use vulgar language.
Example Sentences
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 彼の冗談はいつも下品だ。 | His jokes are always crude. |
| 下品な行動は恥ずかしい。 | Vulgar behavior is embarrassing. |
| そんな下品な言い方をするな。 | Don't speak in such a vulgar way. |
| 彼女は決して下品なことを言わない。 | She never says anything indecent. |
| 下品な笑い方が気になった。 | His vulgar laugh bothered me. |
下品 vs 上品 — Opposites in Japanese
下品 and 上品 (じょうひん) are perfect antonyms. Mastering both helps you describe a wide range of behavior and social judgments:
| Word | Meaning | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| 下品 (げひん) | Vulgar, crude | Describes rude behavior, offensive language, or bad taste |
| 上品 (じょうひん) | Refined, elegant | Describes polished manners, graceful appearance, good taste |
Rei彼女の振る舞いはとても上品だ。Her manner is very elegant. — Now contrast: 彼の言い方は下品すぎる。His way of speaking is too vulgar.
Grammar Patterns with 下品
Since 下品 is a na-adjective, here are the key patterns:
| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 下品な + noun | 下品な冗談 | A vulgar joke |
| 〜は下品だ | それは下品だ | That is vulgar |
| 下品に + verb | 下品に笑う | To laugh crudely |
| 下品さ (noun form) | 下品さが気になる | The vulgarity bothers me |
| 下品すぎる | 下品すぎる行動 | Behavior that is too crude |
Quick Quiz
Choose 下品 or 上品 to complete each sentence:
- 彼女はとても___な人で、いつも礼儀正しい。→ 上品 (She's a very refined person who is always polite.)
- その映画は___な表現が多くて驚いた。→ 下品 (That movie had a lot of vulgar expressions.)
- 大声でげっぷをするのは___だと思う。→ 下品 (Burping loudly is vulgar, I think.)
- あの茶道の先生の所作はとても___だ。→ 上品 (That tea ceremony teacher's movements are very elegant.)
More Japanese Lessons
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