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耻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
耻chǐshamen, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #13538, Hard
耻chǐdisgracen, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #13538, Hard
耻chǐshame, humiliation; ashamedn, 10 strokes, radical 耳, rank #13538, Hard
chǐ(chi3) T3
  1. 1shame
  2. 2disgrace
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March 24, 2026
耻(恥)chǐ(chi3)

The character 耻 (chǐ) conveys the idea of shame or disgrace. It is often used to describe feelings of embarrassment or humiliation, and can be employed in both personal and social contexts, indicating a sense of moral failure or dishonor.

Strokes10Radical耳Frequency#13538DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of shame is deeply rooted in Confucian values, where personal honor and the reputation of one's family are paramount. Losing face (丢脸) is a significant social concern, making the understanding of 耻 essential in grasping social dynamics.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person with a 'ch' (chǐ) in their throat, unable to speak due to the weight of their shame. The radical 耳 (ear) suggests listening to the inner voice of shame, while the character's form evokes a feeling of being weighed down by disgrace.

Meanings of 耻

chǐ(chi3)
1shame
2disgrace
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 耻

耻Simplified
恥Traditional
10Strokes
耳Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#13538Frequency Rank

Podcast: 耻

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Podcast: 耻

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AI Study Notes for 耻

Quick Contrast

羞 (xiū) vs. 耻 (chǐ): Use 耻 when referring to a sense of moral failure or disgrace, while 羞 emphasizes personal embarrassment or shyness.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person with a 'ch' (chǐ) in their throat, unable to speak due to the weight of their shame. The radical 耳 (ear) suggests listening to the inner voice of shame, while the character's form evokes a feeling of being weighed down by disgrace.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 耻 (chǐ) with similar-sounding words like 餐 (cān), which means meal. It is typically used in a more formal context, often in discussions about ethics or social behavior. Common collocations include 耻辱 (chǐrǔ - disgrace) and 丢脸 (diūliǎn - to lose face), emphasizing the concept of shame in various situations.

HSK Study Tips

Although 耻 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for advanced learners. Understanding this character can enhance comprehension of discussions surrounding morality and social norms, which are often featured in higher-level readings.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of shame is deeply rooted in Confucian values, where personal honor and the reputation of one's family are paramount. Losing face (丢脸) is a significant social concern, making the understanding of 耻 essential in grasping social dynamics.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 耻 (chǐ) with similar characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 害 (hài - harm) instead of 耻 in a sentence about feeling ashamed is incorrect; the right phrase would be '我感到耻辱' (Wǒ gǎndào chǐrǔ - I feel shame).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 耻

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Etymology of 耻

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 止 represents the sound. Simplified form of 恥.

Memory Hint

ear

Semantic (meaning)耳
+
Phonetic (sound)止
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 耻?

Decomposition of 耻

IDS Structure⿰耳止
耻Full Character
=
耳er3
left
止zhi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 耻?

Write 耻

耻

Practice writing 耻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 耻

耻 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

这位大名鼎鼎的电影制片人声色俱厉地抨击了这些说法，称之为“无____的谎言”。

The famed film-maker slammed the claims as "an outrageous lie"

Example Sentences for 耻 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这位大名鼎鼎的电影制片人声色俱厉地抨击了这些说法，称之为“无耻的谎言”。

zhè wèi dà míng dǐng dǐng de diàn yǐng zhì piàn rén shēng sè jù lì dì pēng jī le zhè xiē shuō fǎ， ， chēng zhī“ wéi “ wú chǐ de”。

The famed film-maker slammed the claims as "an outrageous lie"
2
这伙歹徒如此胆大妄为、厚颜无耻，让我很是震惊。

zhè huǒ dǎi tú rú cǐ dǎn dà wàng wéi、 、 hòu yán wú， chǐ ， ràng wǒ hěn shì。

I was shocked at the audacity and brazenness of the gangsters.
3
安妮认为梅维斯是个厚颜无耻的骗子，这显然是经过一番深思熟虑后才得出的看法。

ān nī rèn wéi méi wéi sī shì gè hòu yán wú chǐ de piàn zǐ， ， zhè xiǎn rán shì jīng guò yī fān shēn sī shú lǜ hòu cái dé chū de kàn。

Obviously it was Anne's considered opinion that Mavis was a bold-faced liar.
4
他不是个不知羞耻的人，他只是个专业人士。

tā bù shì gè bù zhī xiū chǐ de rén， ， tā zhī shì gè zhuān yè rén。

He was not a dishonourable man, he was merely a professional.
5
虽然她目睹了这可耻的一幕，但是这对他来说无关紧要。

suī rán tā mù dǔ le zhè kě chǐ de yī mù， ， dàn shì zhè duì tā lái shuō wú guān jǐn。

The idea that she witnessed this shameful incident meant nothing to him.
6
这一罪行如此卑鄙无耻，大家都不想声张出去。

zhè yī zuì háng rú cǐ bēi bǐ wú chǐ， ， dà jiā dū bù xiǎng shēng zhāng chū。

The crime was so base that everyone wanted to hush it up.
7
他们已经无耻到把能用的武器都用上了。

tā mén yǐ jīng wú chǐ dào bǎ néng yòng de wǔ qì dū yòng shàng le。

They've stooped to using any and every weapon at their disposal.
8
人们几乎都不把犯罪和罪犯视为一种耻辱。

rén mén jī hū dū bù bǎ fàn zuì hé zuì fàn shì wéi yī zhǒng chǐ rǔ。

There is very little stigma attached to crime and criminals.
9
苏小姐骂方鸿 渐 无耻,实在是冤枉.

sū xiǎo jiě mà fāng hóng jiàn, wú chǐ , shí zài.

Miss Su's condemnation of Fang Hung - chien for being shameless was actually unjust.
10
他感到羞耻,丢尽了面子.

tā gǎn dào xiū chǐ, , diū jìn le miàn.

He was ashamed and bitterly humiliated.

Cultural Notes for 耻

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of shame is deeply rooted in Confucian values, where personal honor and the reputation of one's family are paramount. Losing face (丢脸) is a significant social concern, making the understanding of 耻 essential in grasping social dynamics.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, shame is often viewed as a personal emotion primarily related to individual actions, whereas in Chinese culture, it frequently extends to family and community reputation.

Word Family of 耻

Words Containing This Character20
无耻wúchǐunembarrassed無恥
耻辱chǐrǔdisgrace恥辱
羞耻xiūchǐ(a feeling of) shame羞恥
可耻kěchǐshameful可恥
耻chǐshame恥
廉耻honor and shame廉恥
国耻national humiliation, refers to Japanese incursions into China in the 1930s and 40s, and more especially to Mukden railway incident of 18th September 1931 九一八事變|九一八事变 and subsequent Japanese annexation of Manchuria國恥
耻笑chǐxiàoto sneer at sb恥笑
耻骨pubis恥骨
奇耻大辱extraordinary shame and humiliation (idiom)奇恥大辱
厚颜无耻shameless厚顏無恥
知耻to have a sense of shame知恥
恬不知耻to have no sense of shame恬不知恥
不知羞耻brazen不知羞恥
雪耻to take revenge for a past insult雪恥
不耻下问bùchǐxiàwènnot feel ashamed to ask and learn from one's subordinates不恥下問
礼义廉耻sense of propriety, justice, integrity and honor (i.e. the four social bonds, 四維|四维[sì​wéi])禮義廉恥
荒淫无耻shameless荒淫無恥
报仇雪耻to take revenge and erase humiliation (idiom)報仇雪恥
忍耻to endure humiliation忍恥
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 无耻 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 耻

While both mean shame, 耻 (chǐ) often implies a more public disgrace, whereas 羞 (xiū) refers to personal embarrassment.