Chinese word

可耻

Pronunciation

Pinyinkě chǐ

Meaning

  • adjectiveshameful

Example

我觉得你这样做很可耻。wǒ jué de nǐ zhè yàng zuò hěn ké chǐ

I think what you are doing is very shameful.

Illustration for 可耻 (shameful)

More examples

这是一个可耻的谎言。zhè shì yí gè ké chǐ de huǎng yán

This is a shameful lie.

Core concept

Marks conduct or character as morally bad enough to bring shame and loss of respect.

Common phrases

  • 可耻的行为ké chǐ de xíng wéi

    shameful behavior

  • 感到可耻gǎn dào ké chǐ

    feel ashamed

Similar words

不道德bú dào dé: Describes behavior or attitudes that violate accepted moral principles.
不光彩bù guāng cǎi: Describes something dishonorable that harms a person's good name or standing.
丢脸diū liǎn: Describes something embarrassing that causes a person to lose social respect or face.
羞愧xiū kuì: Describes an inner state of shame and self-blame about one's own behavior.

Definition in Chinese

应受道德谴责、使人感到羞愧或丢脸的行为、言行或品质。yīng shòu dào dé qiǎn zé shǐ rén gǎn dào xiū kuì huò diū liǎn de xíng wéi yán xíng huò pǐn zhì

Word origin

可耻 (kěchǐ, "shameful") combines 可 (kě, "worthy of") with 耻 (chǐ, "shame"), framing the subject as worthy of shame.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often confuse this judgment of an act or character with ashamed, which describes the feeling of the person who feels shame.

Other meanings

  • dishonorableadjective
  • disgracefuladjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word