羞恥

• Reading: しゅうち
• Romaji: shūchi
• Kanji breakdown: 羞 (shū) — shyness, shame; 恥 (chi/haji) — shame, disgrace
• Pronunciation: /ɕɯːtɕi/

Meaning

Shame; embarrassment; bashfulness. A feeling of humiliation or self-consciousness caused by exposure, failure, or vulnerability before others.

A formal noun. Often appears in the compound 羞恥心 (shūchishin — sense of shame or modesty), which describes a person's capacity for embarrassment. Distinguishable from 恥 (haji) — 羞恥 tends to be more intense and self-conscious, implying acute discomfort at being seen or judged. Used in psychological, literary, and formal descriptive contexts.

Examples

1. 大勢の前で失敗して、羞恥で顔が赤くなった。 After failing in front of a large crowd, my face turned red with shame.
2. 羞恥心の強い彼女は、自分の感情をなかなか表現できない。 She has such a strong sense of shame that she can barely express her emotions.
3. その告白は羞恥と勇気が入り混じった複雑な行動だった。 That confession was a complicated act, a mixture of shame and courage.

Usage Guide

Context: psychology, literature, interpersonal, formal writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 羞 (shyness, shame) and 恥 (disgrace, shame). Both characters independently denote embarrassment, and together they intensify the sense of self-conscious humiliation.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal