ci2恥耻
Jyutpingci2
Yalechí
Definition
Shame or dishonour; a feeling of embarrassment or humiliation from disgrace.
neutralemotion
How it's used
Unlike many other Cantonese words, 恥 is primarily a bound morpheme used in formal or literary compounds rather than as a standalone verb or noun in daily speech. It carries a heavy, moralistic weight that implies a loss of dignity or social standing. When expressing the feeling of being embarrassed or shy in casual conversation, speakers almost always use 尷尬 or 羞 instead.
Examples
The most important thing in life is to know shame and not act recklessly.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 恥 as a standalone verb to mean 'to be ashamed', but it is not used this way in modern spoken Cantonese. If you want to say 'I am ashamed', use 覺得好羞愧 or 覺得好尷尬.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
