自愧不如 (zì kuì bù rú) — to feel ashamed of one's inferiority compared to someone else; to acknowledge one's inadequacy with shame
Definition
A formal chengyu for 'to feel ashamed of one's own inferiority when comparing oneself to someone better'. It frames the gap between yourself and another person — you come up short, not just a little.
idiom
to feel ashamed of one's inferiority compared to someone elseto acknowledge one's inadequacy with shame
Examples
- ,自愧不如。Tā de gāng qín tán dé nà me hǎo, wǒ zhēn shì zì kuì bù rú.He plays the piano so well; I really feel ashamed of my inferiority.
- ,自愧不如。Zài xiě zuò fāng miàn, wǒ duì tā zì kuì bù rú.In terms of writing, I feel ashamed that I am not as good as him.
- ,自愧不如。Xiāng bǐ zhī xià, wǒ zì kuì bù rú le.By comparison, I feel ashamed of my inferiority.
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