醜 (chǒu) - Ugly, unsightly & shameful, disgraceful

醜Tone 3

chǒu ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

醜 · chǒu

Ugly, unsightly;

shameful, disgraceful;

clown in Chinese opera;

the second earthly branch in the Chinese zodiac (associated with the Ox).

Ugly, unsightlyshameful, disgracefulclown in Chinese opera

Usage highlights

UglyTo make a fool of oneselfClown roleUgly ducklingShameful affairScandal

Synonyms

  • 陋— coarse, vulgar, ugly
  • 恶— evil, wicked (in moral sense)

Antonyms

  • 美— beautiful, pretty
  • 俊— handsome, elegant
  • 丽— beautiful, graceful

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The monster had an ugly appearance (丑陋的外貌).
  • He felt ashamed of his behavior (出丑).
  • In Chinese opera, the clown role is called chou (丑角).
  • The Year of the Ox is represented by the earthly branch chou (丑年).

Collocations

  • Ugly(丑陋)
  • To make a fool of oneself(出丑)
  • Clown role(丑角)
  • Ugly duckling(丑小鸭)
  • Shameful affair(丑事)
  • Scandal(丑闻)

Idioms

  • To make a public spectacle of oneself(当场出丑)
  • Ugly wife being a treasure(丑妻家中宝)
  • Ugly duckling turns into a swan(丑小鸭变天鹅)
  • Family scandal should not be publicized(家丑不可外扬)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the twelve Earthly Branches in the traditional Chinese calendar system, representing the Ox in the Chinese zodiac.
  • In Chinese opera, the 'chou' is a comic character who provides humor and commentary.
  • The character carries strong negative connotations regarding appearance and moral conduct in Chinese culture.

FAQ