Meaning
羞 describes the feeling of being embarrassed, shy, or ashamed. It captures that sense of discomfort when you feel exposed or self-conscious in front of others. The character appears both as a standalone adjective and in many common compound words related to embarrassment and modesty.
Usage
羞 is most commonly seen in compound words like 害羞 (shy), 羞愧 (ashamed), and 羞耻 (shame). As a standalone character, it appears more in literary or formal contexts. In everyday speech, people typically use the two-character compounds rather than 羞 alone.
Examples
- 01她很害羞，不敢在大家面前说话。, .She is very shy and doesn't dare to speak in front of everyone.
- 02他为自己的行为感到羞愧。.He feels ashamed of his behavior.
Common collocations
- 羞于启齿too ashamed to mention
- 恼羞成怒to become angry from shame
Antonyms
Origin
The character 羞 originally depicted offering food with both hands (羊 sheep component suggesting an offering). Over time, the meaning shifted from 'to offer' to 'to feel ashamed' when offerings were inadequate or one felt unworthy.