Meanings of 惭愧
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Podcast: 惭愧
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AI Study Notes for 惭愧
惭愧 (cánkuì) vs 羞愧 (xiūkuì) — use 惭愧 when the shame is linked to personal moral failings, while 羞愧 emphasizes a sense of shyness or embarrassment.
惭愧 is typically used in serious contexts, often related to moral or ethical failures. A common mistake is confusing it with ‘羞愧’ (xiū kuì), which also means ashamed but carries a slightly different nuance, often linked to being shy. Be mindful of the tone: using it in a humorous context may diminish its seriousness.
As an HSK Level 5 word, 惭愧 builds on the understanding of emotions and moral concepts. Students should connect it with other emotional vocabulary learned at this level, such as ‘自豪’ (zì háo, proud) and ‘羞愧’ (xiū kuì, shy/ashamed) to deepen their emotional expression in Mandarin.
Learners often confuse 惭愧 with similar terms like 羞愧 or even 幸亏 (xìng kuī, fortunately). For example, saying '我很幸亏' (I am very fortunate) instead of '我很惭愧' (I am very ashamed) misuses the context of the emotion.
Pronunciation of 惭愧
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Component Characters
How to say ashamed in Chinese
“ashamed” in Chinese is惭愧
惭愧 (can2 kui4) refers to a feeling of shame or embarrassment, often due to a sense of personal failure or moral shortcomings. It is commonly used in contexts where one feels they have let themselves or others down, and can express both a personal and social dimension of regret.
When to use 惭愧
惭愧 is typically used in serious contexts, often related to moral or ethical failures. A common mistake is confusing it with ‘羞愧’ (xiū kuì), which also means ashamed but carries a slightly different nuance, often linked to being shy. Be mindful of the tone: using it in a humorous context may diminish its seriousness.
惭愧 or something close to it
惭愧 (cánkuì) vs 羞愧 (xiūkuì) — use 惭愧 when the shame is linked to personal moral failings, while 羞愧 emphasizes a sense of shyness or embarrassment.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 惭愧 with similar terms like 羞愧 or even 幸亏 (xìng kuī, fortunately). For example, saying '我很幸亏' (I am very fortunate) instead of '我很惭愧' (I am very ashamed) misuses the context of the emotion.
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Grammar Patterns of 惭愧
惭愧 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
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Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我对自己发那么大的火而深感____。
I felt incredibly ashamed of myself for getting so angry.
Example Sentences for 惭愧 (3)
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Frequently Asked Questions about 惭愧
Not necessarily; it can also reflect a broader social context, such as letting down one's family or community.
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