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下種／下衆／下司 are all pronounced "gesu." According to various dictionaries "gesu"
can be used to describe a sleazebag, a humble person, or a petty official.

How can one differentiate between which to use? How are they supposed to be
used?
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2013-08-30T16:00:35.747
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2013-08-31T19:16:56.453
2013-08-30T23:44:07.687
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question
word-choice kanji
How do you correctly use 'gesu' 下種／下衆／下司?
Bear in mind that this is an answer based on research and not actual
familiarity with the term.

The gist of it is that げす is a dirty word that is generally written in
hiragana and refers to things that are socially low, base, vulgar, of the
common class. In common use it'll just refer to something crude or vulgar.

Our first stop is an actual J-J dictionary (and not edict which has the
unclear definitions you got). See [the
entry](http://www.weblio.jp/content/%E3%81%92%E3%81%99):

Definition one describes a crude or vulgar thing or person. That's where
you're getting "sleazebag." The example it gives is げすな考え, or what we can
probably call "dirty thoughts" or "having one's mind in the gutter."

The second definition is someone of a low social rank. This is where you'll
get your "humble person" definition. The example sentences are slightly
archaic so you probably don't need to worry about this one. (For reference:
「―下郎」「女も男もいと―にはあらざりけれど/大和 148」)

The third definition is just a servant, and its examples are also archaic, so
don't sweat this one unless you really want to get into your old literature.
(「食(めし)たかせける女のむめといふ―なり/浮世草子・五人女 4」)

The 4th is just a low ranking official, or your "petty official." Again, don't
worry about this one.

Interesting at the end here is a big list of set phrases that use げす, one of
which appears in the alc examples.

Note also that all three of the kanji variations you listed point here and all
are indicated as uncommon. Essentially they seem to mean the same thing but
you won't normally be using them anyway so the distinction in use becomes more
of a historical question than one of choosing the right one for the situation
(which I'm assuming to be out of the scope of this question).

So as for how it's used, we check
[alc](http://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=%E3%81%92%E3%81%99):

> **げす**  
>  cocksucker〈米俗・卑〉  
>  cur〈軽蔑的〉  
>  heel〔【反】baby face〕  
>  King Richard the third〈豪俗〉〔turdの押韻俗語〕  
>  squit  
>  turd〈卑〉  
>  **げすな勘繰りはやめろ。／変な意味に取らないでください。**  
>  Get your mind out of the gutter.  
>  性的な意味にも取れることについて「そういう意味ではない」とくぎを刺すのに使われることが多い。〕  
>  **げす野郎**  
>  dick-licker〈米俗・卑〉  
>  dick-sucker〈米俗・卑〉  
>  dickey-licker〈米俗・卑〉  
>  sleazebag〈俗・軽蔑的〉  
>  sleazeball〈俗・軽蔑的〉  
>  slimebag〈俗・軽蔑的〉  
>  slimeball〈俗・軽蔑的〉  
>  slimebucket〈俗・軽蔑的〉

So we have it on its own just being a classic King Richard. The term
[げすの勘ぐり](http://www.weblio.jp/content/%E4%B8%8B%E7%A8%AE%E3%81%AE%E5%8B%98%E7%B9%B0%E3%82%8A)
is a set phrase that refers to having vulgar thoughts. And then if you want to
make a presumption about someone's phallic proclivities, you can go ahead and
call them a ゲス野郎. Note that the Japanese doesn't actually refer to any
fellatio.

And as a final note, for the kanji just don't worry about it. If you want to
use it then pick one and go wild. The word is yours for the bandying so make
it count.
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2013-08-31T19:16:56.453
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2013-08-31T19:16:56.453
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