丢人现眼 (diū rén xiàn yǎn) — (idiom) to lose face, to make a fool of oneself; said of behavior that brings embarrassment or shame

Definition

Strong chengyu meaning 'to make a fool of oneself and bring shame' — stronger than the everyday 丢脸, with a sharper, more judgmental tone used to scold or criticize.

idiom
to lose faceto make a fool of oneselfsaid of behavior that brings embarrassment or shame

Examples

  • ,丢人现眼。
    Tā zài yàn huì shàng hē zuì le, shí zài diū rén xiàn yǎn.
    He got drunk at the banquet, really making a fool of himself.
  • 丢人现眼,。
    Nǐ zhè yàng zuò tài diū rén xiàn yǎn le, gǎn jǐn tíng xià lái.
    What you're doing is too disgraceful — stop right away.
  • ,丢人现眼。
    Wèi le nà diǎn xiǎo shì qù zhēng chǎo, zhēn diū rén xiàn yǎn.
    Arguing over such a small matter is really embarrassing.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

丢人lose face
丢diūlose人rénperson
动宾Verb + object
现眼expose eyes
现xiànexpose眼yǎneyes
动宾Verb + object

丢人 loses face, and 现眼 exposes the eyes, piling up shame.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 丟; 丢 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 丟 is made of 一 (one) and 去 (to go; to remove); the simplified 丢 is a later shorthand, so its shapes are not the original parts.

Open 丢 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 現; 现 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
見
見jiàn現
Same sound today

The traditional form 現 pairs 玉 (jade) with 見 as a sound part; the simplified 现 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 现 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn眼yǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

眼 combines 目, which is an eye, with 艮, which gives the character's sound.

Open 眼 →

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