kwai3愧
Jyutpingkwai3
Yalekwai
Definition
Ashamed; remorseful.
writtenemotion
How it's used
愧 is rarely used as a standalone verb in spoken Cantonese, functioning more as a formal root in compound words like 愧疚 or 愧對. When expressing the feeling of shame in daily life, speakers almost always prefer using 羞恥 or 尷尬 depending on the context. Its usage carries a heavy, moral weight that implies a sense of letting someone down rather than just feeling socially awkward.
Examples
You did something wrong, don't you feel any shame?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 愧 alone to describe feeling embarrassed in a social situation, as it sounds overly literary or dramatic. Use 尷尬 instead for everyday social awkwardness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
