caam4慚惭

Jyutpingcaam4

Yalechàahm

語素

Definition

Ashamed; feeling embarrassed or remorseful because of one's actions or failures.

neutralemotion

How it's used

This character rarely stands alone in modern spoken Cantonese and is almost always paired with 愧 to form 慚愧. While it conveys a sense of shame or guilt, it is more formal or literary than the common colloquial expression 唔好意思. Using it in casual conversation can sound overly dramatic or serious.

Examples

nam2諗faan1返hei2起ji5以cin4前gam3咁joeng2樣zou6做，zan1真hai6係hou2好caam4慚kwai5愧。

Thinking back on how I acted like that before, I feel really ashamed.

nei5你zou6做zo2咗gam3咁do1多co3錯si6事，m4唔gok3覺dak1得caam4慚kwai5愧me1咩？

You've done so many wrong things, don't you feel ashamed?

Common phrases

caam4慚kwai5愧

ashamed

Common mistake

Learners often try to use it as a standalone verb, but it functions primarily as a root for compound adjectives. You should use 唔好意思 when you want to express minor embarrassment or social awkwardness in daily life.