Meanings of 怍
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About 怍
Podcast: 怍
Podcast: 怍
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AI Study Notes for 怍
惭 (cán) vs 怍 (zuò): use 怍 when referring specifically to feelings of shame related to one's actions, while 惭 conveys a broader sense of shame or embarrassment that may not be tied to a specific wrongdoing.
This character is often used in formal contexts and can be paired with words like '感到' (gǎndào - to feel) to express feeling ashamed. A common mistake is to confuse it with '悔' (huǐ - regret), which emphasizes remorse rather than shame.
Although 怍 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to emotions, a theme in HSK levels. Students should familiarize themselves with other emotional words to enhance their vocabulary and understanding of nuances in expressing feelings.
Learners often mistakenly use 怍 interchangeably with 羞愧 (xiūkuì), which has a slightly different connotation. Instead, remember that 怍 specifically pertains to feelings of shame related to an action or mistake.
Pronunciation of 怍
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Etymology of 怍
heart
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 怍
- 1The meaning half忄 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half乍 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayheart
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 怍? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Decomposition of 怍
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How to say ashamed in Chinese
“ashamed” in Chinese is怍
The character 怍 (zuò) means 'ashamed' or 'embarrassed.' It conveys a sense of guilt or discomfort due to a perceived failure or wrongdoing. Commonly used in contexts where someone feels regret or shame about their actions.
When to use 怍
This character is often used in formal contexts and can be paired with words like '感到' (gǎndào - to feel) to express feeling ashamed. A common mistake is to confuse it with '悔' (huǐ - regret), which emphasizes remorse rather than shame.
怍 or something close to it
惭 (cán) vs 怍 (zuò): use 怍 when referring specifically to feelings of shame related to one's actions, while 惭 conveys a broader sense of shame or embarrassment that may not be tied to a specific wrongdoing.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 怍 interchangeably with 羞愧 (xiūkuì), which has a slightly different connotation. Instead, remember that 怍 specifically pertains to feelings of shame related to an action or mistake.
Write 怍
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Practice writing 怍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 怍
Compound Meaning
What does 怍 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 怍
You can say '我感到很怍' (Wǒ gǎndào hěn zuò), meaning 'I feel very ashamed.'
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