恼羞成怒

• Pinyin: nǎo xiū chéng nù
• Hanzi breakdown: 恼 = 忄(heart) + components — vexation; 羞 = 羊(sheep) + 丑(ugly) — shame; 成 = pictograph of a weapon completing a task — to become; 怒 = 奴(slave) + 心(heart) — rage arising from subjugation

Meaning

To fly into a rage out of shame; to become furious because one feels embarrassed; angry defensiveness triggered by humiliation.

Describes the psychological pattern of converting shame into outward aggression. Often used when someone lashes out precisely because they have been exposed or embarrassed. Common in political commentary, interpersonal conflict narratives, and psychological analysis.

Examples

1. 当他的谎言被当众揭穿之后，他恼羞成怒，开始大声指责揭露真相的人。 When his lie was exposed in public, he flew into a rage and started loudly accusing the person who revealed the truth.
2. 辩论中处于下风的候选人恼羞成怒，抛弃了理性的论证，开始进行人身攻击。 Losing ground in the debate, the candidate grew furious and abandoned rational argument, launching into personal attacks instead.
3. 领导被下属当场指出错误，恼羞成怒之下下令将其调离了核心部门。 When a subordinate pointed out the leader’s mistake on the spot, the leader, in a fit of embarrassed anger, ordered the person transferred out of the core department.

Usage Guide

Context: interpersonal conflict, political commentary, psychology, media analysis

Tone: critical/analytical

Do Say

• 被媒体记者追问贪腐细节之后，这名官员恼羞成怒，拒绝继续回答任何问题并强行离开了现场。(After being pressed by reporters about corruption details, the official flew into an embarrassed rage, refused to answer any more questions, and forcibly left the scene.)
• 他平时以通情达理著称，然而一旦被人当面指出失误便会恼羞成怒，这种反应令同事们深感困惑。(He was usually known for being reasonable, but whenever someone pointed out his mistakes to his face he would fly into an embarrassed rage — a reaction that deeply puzzled his colleagues.)

Don't Say

• 将'恼羞成怒'用于描述单纯的愤怒 — 恼羞成怒 specifically describes anger arising from embarrassment or shame; for general anger without the shame component, use 发怒 or 大发雷霆

Origin & History

恼(vexed/angry) + 羞(shame) + 成(become) + 怒(rage). Captures the psychological progression: shame (羞) generates vexation (恼), which transforms into (成) outright rage (怒).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal