'劣根性' (liè gēn xìng) literally combines '劣' (inferior, bad), '根' (root, origin), and '性' (nature, quality) to mean an inherent, deep-seated flaw in human character—something morally or psychologically negative that is ingrained, not learned or situational. It often implies a stubborn, persistent tendency toward selfishness, cruelty, hypocrisy, or laziness that resists change.

This term carries strong critical or philosophical weight and appears frequently in literary, psychological, and social commentary—especially when analyzing collective behavior or historical patterns of injustice. Unlike temporary bad habits, '劣根性' suggests something foundational and hardwired, sometimes even biologically or culturally inherited. It’s commonly used in essays, critiques of traditional values, or discussions about human nature in modern Chinese thought.