出丑

• Pinyin: chū chǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 出 = to emerge/show; 丑 = ugly/shameful

Meaning

To make a fool of oneself; to embarrass oneself publicly; to lose face.

Describes public embarrassment or humiliation. Can be intentional (made to look foolish) or unintentional (self-inflicted embarrassment). Related to the concept of 'face' in Chinese culture.

Examples

1. 他在台上忘词了，出了个大丑。 He forgot his lines on stage and really embarrassed himself.
2. 我真怕在这么多人面前出丑。 I'm so afraid of embarrassing myself in front of all these people.
3. 别担心，大家都出过丑，没什么大不了的。 Don't worry — everyone has embarrassed themselves before, it's no big deal.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, social situations, performance

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 他喝多了酒在聚会上出丑了。(He got drunk and embarrassed himself at the party.)
• 别让我出丑啊，拜托帮帮忙。(Don't let me make a fool of myself — please help me out.)

Don't Say

• 我想出丑 (Unless sarcastic, people don't want to 出丑 — not used positively)

Origin & History

Compound of 出 (to show/emerge) and 丑 (ugly/shameful). Literally 'to show ugliness' — to expose one's embarrassing side.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal