Meanings of 恥
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About 恥
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Podcast: 恥
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AI Study Notes for 恥
羞 (xiū) - use 恥 (chǐ) when referring to a deeper sense of shame or dishonor, while 羞 (xiū) often conveys a lighter sense of embarrassment or shyness.
Be cautious of the tone when using 恥 (chǐ), as it can sound harsh in certain contexts. It is more commonly used in formal or serious discussions rather than casual conversations. Collocations include terms like '感到恥辱' (gǎndào chǐrǔ), meaning 'to feel ashamed.'
Though 恥 (chǐ) is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is beneficial to learn alongside other emotional terms and expressions of feelings. Focus on how it can be combined with other words, such as '羞恥' (xiūchǐ), which means 'shamefulness.'
Learners often confuse 恥 (chǐ) with 羞 (xiū), which also means 'shame' but has a softer connotation. For example, saying '我感到羞' (wǒ gǎndào xiū) instead of '我感到恥' (wǒ gǎndào chǐ) can change the intensity of the expression.
Pronunciation of 恥
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Etymology of 恥
Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 止 represents the sound. Simplified form of 恥.
heart
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 恥
Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 止 represents the sound. Simplified form of 恥.
- 1The meaning half心 carries the sense.
- 2The giveawayheart
- 3On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 恥? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 恥
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How to say shame, humiliation; ashamed in Chinese
“shame, humiliation; ashamed” in Chinese is恥
The character 恥 (chǐ) means 'shame' or 'humiliation.' It is often used to express feelings of embarrassment or a sense of dishonor, both personally and socially. Common contexts include discussions about moral values, personal failures, or societal norms where one feels they have not met expectations.
When to use 恥
Be cautious of the tone when using 恥 (chǐ), as it can sound harsh in certain contexts. It is more commonly used in formal or serious discussions rather than casual conversations. Collocations include terms like '感到恥辱' (gǎndào chǐrǔ), meaning 'to feel ashamed.'
恥 or something close to it
羞 (xiū) - use 恥 (chǐ) when referring to a deeper sense of shame or dishonor, while 羞 (xiū) often conveys a lighter sense of embarrassment or shyness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 恥 (chǐ) with 羞 (xiū), which also means 'shame' but has a softer connotation. For example, saying '我感到羞' (wǒ gǎndào xiū) instead of '我感到恥' (wǒ gǎndào chǐ) can change the intensity of the expression.
Write 恥
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Practice writing 恥 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 恥
Compound Meaning
What does 无耻 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 恥
In everyday language, 恥 refers to feelings of shame or embarrassment, often used when discussing moral failures.
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