羞耻感 (xiū chǐ gǎn) — shame, sense of shame

Definition

A noun meaning the feeling of shame — the internal emotional experience, not the act itself. Often used in psychological or cultural contexts (e.g., how cultures handle guilt and 羞耻感).

noun
shamesense of shame

Examples

  • 羞耻感。
    Tā yīn wèi shuō huǎng ér chǎn shēng qiáng liè de xiū chǐ gǎn.
    He felt a strong sense of shame because he lied.
  • 羞耻感。
    Zhè zhǒng xiū chǐ gǎn ràng tā bù gǎn miàn duì jiā rén.
    This shame made him afraid to face his family.
  • 羞耻感。
    Bù tóng wén huà duì xiū chǐ gǎn de dìng yì yǒu suǒ bù tóng.
    Different cultures define the sense of shame differently.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

羞耻shame
羞xiūashamed耻chǐshame
联合Side by side
感gǎnfeeling

“羞耻” (shame) combines with “感” (feeling) to name a sense of shame.

Characters in this word

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
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
丑
丑chǒu羞xiū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

羞 is built from 羊, a sheep, as the meaning part, and 丑 for the sound.

Open 羞 →

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
耳耳ěr
Sound part声符shēngfú
止
止zhǐ耻chǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

耻 is written with 耳 (ear) on the left and 止 on the right. Here 止 gives the sound, while 耳 is the meaning part.

Open 耻 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián感gǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

Open 感 →

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