媿 (kuì) - ashamed, conscience-stricken & to feel shame or guilt

媿Tone 4

kuì ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

媿 · kuì

ashamed, conscience-stricken;

to feel shame or guilt

ashamed, conscience-strickento feel shame or guilt

Usage highlights

feel ashamedguilty conscienceexpression of shameashamed to face someoneno shameashamed heart

Synonyms

  • 愧— ashamed (more common modern variant)
  • 羞— shy, bashful, embarrassed
  • 惭— feel ashamed, humiliated

Antonyms

  • 傲— proud, arrogant
  • 骄— haughty, conceited

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He felt deeply ashamed of his actions (他对此深感媿怍).
  • She had a guilty conscience about the mistake (她对错误感到媿疚).
  • Facing his teacher, he was filled with shame (面对老师，他心中充满媿色).

Collocations

  • feel ashamed(媿怍)
  • guilty conscience(媿疚)
  • expression of shame(媿色)
  • ashamed to face someone(媿面)
  • no shame(无媿)
  • ashamed heart(媿心)

Idioms

  • Have a clear conscience(无愧于心)
  • Ashamed of being inferior(自媿不如)
  • Feel ashamed when comparing(相形见媿)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Represents the Confucian virtue of knowing shame as fundamental to moral character.
  • Used in classical texts to express deep moral remorse rather than superficial embarrassment.
  • The character combines 'woman' radical with 'ghost', suggesting hidden inner turmoil.

FAQ