sau1 ci2羞恥羞耻

Jyutpingsau1 ci2

Yalesāu chí

Definition

(a feeling of) shame

colloquialemotion

How it's used

Focuses on the internal moral compass or social awareness of an individual. It is often used to criticize someone who lacks a sense of propriety or decorum in public settings. When describing the feeling itself, people often prefer using 尷尬 or 冇面子 for milder social awkwardness.

Examples

keoi5 zou6 co3 si6 dou1 m4 zi1 sau1 ci2 zan1 hai6 lei4 pou2

佢做錯事都唔知羞恥，真係離譜。

He doesn't feel any shame for doing wrong, it's truly outrageous.

nei5 zou6 ni1 di1 je5 m4 gok3 dak1 sau1 ci2 gaa4 me1

你做呢啲嘢，唔覺得羞恥㗎咩？

Don't you feel any shame for doing things like this?

Common phrases

m4 zi1 sau1 ci2

唔知羞恥

shameless

Common mistake

Avoid using it as a direct translation for being shy, which is 怕醜. Using 羞恥 to describe a child who is just being timid will sound overly dramatic and heavy, as it implies a serious moral failing.