丢人

• Pinyin: diū rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 丢 = 一 + 去 (to lose); 人 = 人 pictograph (person — extended to social standing)

Meaning

To disgrace oneself; to be shameful or embarrassing. Describes an act or behaviour that damages one's dignity or social standing in the eyes of others.

Similar to 丢脸 but more colloquial and direct. Can be used as a predicate or attributively. Frequently heard in everyday speech when scolding or criticising socially inappropriate conduct. The expression evokes deeply held values around dignity and face in Chinese culture.

Examples

1. 他在客人面前与妻子发生争执，事后觉得实在太丢人了。 He argued with his wife in front of guests, and afterward he felt it was truly embarrassing.
2. 一道简单的题都答错了，真丢人。 I got a simple question wrong—how embarrassing.
3. 这种不守信用的行为在商界是非常丢人的。 In the business world, behavior that breaks trust is extremely disgraceful.

Usage Guide

Context: social norms, reputation, family, colloquial

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 在大众场合大声喧哗，不但影响他人，对自己而言也是十分丢人的行为。(Making a loud scene in public not only disturbs others but is also shameful behaviour for oneself.)
• 他公开撒谎被当场揭穿，丢人极了，恨不得找个地缝钻进去。(He was caught lying publicly and felt utterly humiliated, wishing the ground would swallow him up.)

Don't Say

• 他丢人了他的公司 — use 他让公司丢人了 or 他令公司颜面尽失; 丢人 is intransitive and cannot directly take an object

Origin & History

丢 (to lose) + 人 (person — here referring to social dignity and reputation)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal