Meaning
陋 describes something that is crude, ugly, shabby, or of poor quality. It can refer to physical appearance, living conditions, customs, or habits that are considered base or lacking in refinement. The character often appears in literary or formal contexts to express disapproval or humility.
Usage
陋 is more commonly found in written or formal Chinese than in everyday speech. It frequently appears in compound words like 简陋 (simple and crude) or 丑陋 (ugly). When used alone, it carries a strong negative connotation about quality or appearance. In classical expressions like 陋室 (humble dwelling), it can express modesty about one's own circumstances.
Examples
- 01这个村子的条件很简陋。.The conditions in this village are very crude.
- 02我们应该摒弃这些陋习。.We should abandon these bad customs.
Common collocations
- 简陋的房子a crude/shabby house
- 陋室humble dwelling
- 陋习bad custom/habit
- 鄙陋之见my humble opinion (self-deprecating)
Antonyms
Origin
The character 陋 is composed of the mound radical 阝(fù) on the left and 㔷 on the right. The right component suggests something hidden or confined in a narrow space, combining with the mound radical to convey the idea of something cramped, limited, or inferior.