辱没 (rǔ méi) — to bring disgrace to; to humiliate

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to bring disgrace to' — usually a reputation, family, or ancestor. Stronger and more literary than 丢脸, and almost always used in serious or lofty contexts rather than casual speech.

verb
to bring disgrace toto humiliate

Examples

  • 辱没。
    Tā de xíng wéi rǔ méi le jiā zú de míng shēng.
    His behavior brought disgrace to the family's reputation.
  • 辱没。
    Wǒ men bù néng rǔ méi zǔ xiān de róng yù.
    We must not disgrace the honor of our ancestors.
  • 辱没。
    Tā fā shì jué bù rǔ méi zì jǐ de shì yán.
    He swore never to disgrace his own oath.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

辱rǔdisgrace
没méiruin/destroy

辱 (disgrace) and 没 (ruin/destroy) together mean to bring disgrace and ruin someone's honor.

Characters in this word

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

辱 combines 辰, drawn as a hoe, with 寸, drawn as a hand.

Open 辱 →

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 沒; 没 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬛
𠬛𠬛沒mò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 沒 pairs 水 (water) with 𠬛 as a sound part; this note is about 沒, not the simplified 没.

Open 没 →

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