adjective HSK 5
inferior · of poor quality · bad
Meaning
劣 describes something that is inferior in quality, ability, or standard. It often appears in formal or written contexts to indicate something substandard or worse than what is expected or compared.
Usage
Commonly used in compound words rather than alone. Native speakers frequently use it in fixed phrases like 恶劣 (èliè, terrible/vile) or 劣质 (lièzhì, poor quality). More formal than colloquial synonyms like 差 (chà). Often appears in comparative contexts to show inferiority.
Examples
- 01这家工厂生产的商品质量低劣。.The products manufactured by this factory are of inferior quality.
- 02他的表现明显劣于其他选手。.His performance is clearly inferior to that of the other competitors.
Common collocations
- 劣质产品inferior/shoddy products
- 恶劣环境harsh/terrible environment
- 优劣good and bad, merits and demerits
- 低劣手段despicable means/methods
Antonyms
Origin
The character 劣 is composed of 少 (shǎo, little/few) on top and 力 (lì, strength/power) on the bottom, suggesting the idea of having little strength or ability, hence inferior quality.