慚 (cán) - Ashamed — to feel shame, guilt, or embarrassment & a sense of inadequacy or regret.

慚Tone 2

cán ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

慚 · cán

Ashamed — to feel shame, guilt, or embarrassment;

a sense of inadequacy or regret.

Ashamed — to feel shame, guilt, or embarrassmenta sense of inadequacy or regret.

Usage highlights

Feel ashamedSense of shameShame and regretSelfAshamed of inferiorityShamefaced

Synonyms

  • 愧— ashamed, guilty
  • 羞— shy, embarrassed
  • 耻— disgrace, shame

Antonyms

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

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I feel ashamed of my poor performance (感到惭愧).
  • He apologized with a sense of shame (惭愧地道歉).
  • She felt embarrassed by her mistake (因错误而羞惭).
  • They expressed regret for their actions (表示惭怍).

Collocations

  • Feel ashamed(惭愧)
  • Sense of shame(羞惭)
  • Shame and regret(惭怍)
  • Self-reproach(自惭)
  • Ashamed of inferiority(惭恧)
  • Shamefaced(面有惭色)

Idioms

  • Ashamed of being inferior(自惭形秽)
  • Feeling ashamed and unworthy(惭愧无地)
  • The face shows shame(面有惭色)
  • Ashamed of the duck but aspiring to the crane(惭凫企鹤)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian ethics, shame (惭) is a moral emotion that guides ethical behavior and self-cultivation.
  • The character appears in classical texts and idioms emphasizing humility and self-reflection.
  • In modern usage, it conveys sincere regret or embarrassment, often in formal or literary contexts.

FAQ