咎 (jiù) - Fault, blame, punishment & to censure, to punish

咎Tone 4

jiù ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 口

傑君

咎 · jiù

Fault, blame, punishment;

to censure, to punish;

misfortune, disaster.

Fault, blame, punishmentto censure, to punishmisfortune, disaster.

Usage highlights

Fault, blameTo blame oneselfTo bear blameHeaven's punishmentPast faultsTo avoid blame

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 功— merit, achievement
  • 誉— praise, reputation

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He bore the blame for the mistake (承担咎责).
  • This was entirely my fault (这是我的咎).
  • The ancients believed disasters were heaven's punishment (天咎).
  • One should examine oneself when encountering misfortune (自咎).

Collocations

  • Fault, blame(咎由)
  • To blame oneself(自咎)
  • To bear blame(归咎)
  • Heaven's punishment(天咎)
  • Past faults(旧咎)
  • To avoid blame(避咎)

Idioms

  • To blame others instead of oneself(咎由自取)
  • No one to blame(无咎无誉)
  • To shift blame onto others(归咎于人)
  • To reproach oneself(自咎自责)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese thought, '咎' often referred to disasters or misfortunes seen as divine punishment for wrongdoing.
  • The concept appears in the I Ching (Book of Changes) where '无咎' (no blame) is a favorable outcome indicating proper conduct.
  • Confucian tradition emphasizes self-examination and accepting blame (自咎) as virtuous behavior.

FAQ