丑 (chǒu) - Ugly & disgraceful

丑Tone 3

chǒu ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 一

橙丁

丑 · chǒu

Ugly;

disgraceful;

clown;

second earthly branch (in Chinese calendar);

approximately 1–3 AM.

Uglydisgracefulclown

Usage highlights

UglyClownMake a fool of oneselfUgly ducklingShamefulScandal

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The clown (小丑) performed at the circus.
  • She felt embarrassed (出丑) in front of everyone.
  • This is an ugly (丑陋) building.
  • The hour of the Ox (丑时) is from 1 to 3 AM.

Collocations

  • Ugly(丑陋)
  • Clown(小丑)
  • Make a fool of oneself(出丑)
  • Ugly duckling(丑小鸭)
  • Shameful(丑恶)
  • Scandal(丑闻)

Idioms

  • The ugly wife is a treasure at home(丑妻家中宝)
  • To make a spectacle of oneself(当场出丑)
  • The ugly duckling turns into a swan(丑小鸭变天鹅)
  • To reveal one's ugliness(出乖露丑)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Second of the twelve Earthly Branches, representing the Ox in the Chinese zodiac and the time period 1–3 AM.
  • In traditional Chinese opera, '丑' refers to the comic or clown role, often portraying humorous or negative characters.
  • The character carries strong negative connotations in modern usage, primarily meaning 'ugly' or 'shameful'.

FAQ