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忝 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
忝tiǎnshame, disgrace; self-depreciationvg, 8 strokes, radical ⺗
忝tiǎnto shameunknown, 8 strokes, radical ⺗
tiǎn(tian3)tian T3
  1. 1shame, disgrace; self-depreciation
  2. 2to shame
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March 24, 2026

忝tiǎn(tian3)

The character 忝 (tiǎn) conveys a sense of shame or disgrace, often reflecting self-deprecation or feelings of inadequacy. It is commonly used in contexts where someone feels unworthy or embarrassed, particularly in formal or literary expressions.

Strokes8Radical⺗
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, self-deprecation can be a virtue, as it reflects humility and respect for others. The use of 忝 in language can signify a person's understanding of their place in social hierarchies, often appearing in formal contexts like poetry or speeches.

Memory tip

Imagine a person feeling shame (忝) while standing under a big tree (木), representing their heavy burden of disgrace. The character combines the heart radical (忄) indicating emotions, with the tree (木), suggesting the weight of their feelings is as heavy as a tree.

Meanings of 忝

tiǎn(tian3)
1shame, disgrace; self-depreciation
2to shame
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 忝

忝Simplified
8Strokes
⺗Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 忝

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AI study notes for 忝

Usage Notes

Be cautious with tone; 忝 is pronounced with a third tone (tiǎn), which can be mispronounced as a second tone. This term is more likely to be used in formal writing or speeches rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases expressing feelings of shame or unworthiness.

HSK Study Tips

Though 忝 is not included in the HSK levels, it relates to emotional vocabulary often encountered in higher-level texts. Students should focus on understanding its nuance in expressing humility or shame, and how it can contrast with more positive attributes in advanced dialogues.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 忝 with similar-sounding characters, leading to misinterpretations. For example, using 忝 (shame) when intending to say 'pride' with a character like 荣 (róng) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 忝

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Etymology of 忝

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

heart

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

Origin

忝 = ⺗ + 天. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 忝

IDS Structure⿱天⺗
忝Full character
=
天tian1
top
⺗xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 忝?

How to say shame, disgrace; self-depreciation in Chinese

“shame, disgrace; self-depreciation” in Chinese is忝tiǎn

The character 忝 (tiǎn) conveys a sense of shame or disgrace, often reflecting self-deprecation or feelings of inadequacy. It is commonly used in contexts where someone feels unworthy or embarrassed, particularly in formal or literary expressions.

When to use 忝

Be cautious with tone; 忝 is pronounced with a third tone (tiǎn), which can be mispronounced as a second tone. This term is more likely to be used in formal writing or speeches rather than in everyday conversation. Common collocations include phrases expressing feelings of shame or unworthiness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 忝 with similar-sounding characters, leading to misinterpretations. For example, using 忝 (shame) when intending to say 'pride' with a character like 荣 (róng) is incorrect.

Write 忝

忝

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

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Word Family of 忝

Words containing this character1
忝tiǎnto shame

Frequently asked questions about 忝

The correct pronunciation is with a third tone: tiǎn.

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