愧 (kuì) - Ashamed — feeling shame, guilt, or embarrassment for & having a troubled conscience.

愧Tone 4

kuì ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

愧 · kuì

Ashamed — feeling shame, guilt, or embarrassment for one's actions or shortcomings;

having a troubled conscience.

Ashamed — feeling shame, guilt, or embarrassment forhaving a troubled conscience.

Usage highlights

Feel ashamedHave a guilty conscienceAshamed to face someoneNo shame in askingFeel ashamed and unworthyDeeply ashamed

Synonyms

  • 羞— shy, ashamed, embarrassed
  • 惭— ashamed, mortified
  • 疚— remorseful, guilty

Antonyms

  • 傲— proud, arrogant
  • 骄— arrogant, proud
  • 荣— honor, glory

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He felt ashamed of his behavior (感到愧疚).
  • I am ashamed to face my teacher (愧对老师).
  • She felt guilty for not helping (感到惭愧).
  • He was ashamed of his poor performance (愧对自己的表现).

Collocations

  • Feel ashamed(感到惭愧)
  • Have a guilty conscience(愧疚)
  • Ashamed to face someone(愧对)
  • No shame in asking(问心无愧)
  • Feel ashamed and unworthy(惭愧)
  • Deeply ashamed(深愧)

Idioms

  • Have a clear conscience(问心无愧)
  • Ashamed of being inferior(自愧不如)
  • Ashamed and unable to lift one's head(愧不敢当)
  • Ashamed to death(愧死)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian ethics, feeling shame (愧) is considered a virtue that reflects moral awareness and self-cultivation.
  • The character contains the heart/mind radical (忄), indicating it relates to emotional and psychological states.
  • In traditional Chinese morality, the ability to feel shame demonstrates one's moral character and capacity for self-improvement.

FAQ