sau1 ci2羞恥羞耻
Jyutpingsau1 ci2
Yalesāu chí
Definition
Shame; the feeling of embarrassment or guilt caused by a failure to meet social standards.
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
He doesn't feel any shame for doing wrong, it's truly outrageous.
Related words
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.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
