Meaning
惭愧 describes the feeling of shame or embarrassment when you realize you've failed to meet expectations or haven't done something you should have. It carries a moral dimension, suggesting regret over one's inadequacy or wrongdoing. Unlike simple embarrassment, it often involves self-reflection and recognition of personal responsibility.
Usage
Commonly used when apologizing or expressing humility about one's shortcomings. Often appears in patterns like 感到惭愧 (to feel ashamed) or 很惭愧 (very ashamed). It's more formal than casual speech and carries a sincere, reflective tone. Frequently used when someone receives praise they feel they don't deserve or when acknowledging failure.
Examples
- 01我考试没考好，感到很惭愧。, .I didn't do well on the exam and feel very ashamed.
- 02他对自己的行为深感惭愧。.He feels deeply ashamed of his behavior.
Characters
Common collocations
- 感到惭愧to feel ashamed
- 十分惭愧very ashamed
- 惭愧地说to say ashamedly
- 深感惭愧to feel deeply ashamed
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters contain the heart radical 心, indicating emotional states. The characters are near-synonyms combined to intensify the meaning of shame and guilt.