賤

It is used both to describe social status (low, humble) and attitude (despise, scorn).

Phono-semantic compound:

貝 (패, “cowrie, money”) — semantic, indicating value, trade, wealth.

戔 (잔, “remnant, diminish”) — phonetic, giving the sound 천 and suggesting “lessened value.”

The character originally depicted “something of diminished worth”, hence “cheap, low in value,” which extended to “lowly, humble.”

천하다 (賤하다) — to be lowly, base

비천(卑賤) — lowly, humble, of poor status

천민(賤民) — commoner, base person (historically referring to the lowest social classes)

천대(賤待) — contempt, scorn, treating with disdain

In classical Chinese, 賤 was often used as a humble reference to oneself in formal speech, e.g., 賤名 (“my humble name”), 賤人 (“your humble servant”).

Socially, the word also marked low social rank, e.g., 賤民 (“base/common people”) in contrast to 貴人 (“noble person”).

In Korean history, 賤民 (천민) referred to outcast groups or lowest classes, distinct from 양반 (兩班) and 중인 (中人).