恥

• Reading: はじ
• Romaji: haji
• Kanji breakdown: 恥 (haji/chi) — shame; composed of 耳 (ear) + 心 (heart)
• Pronunciation: /ha.dʑi/

Meaning

Shame; embarrassment; disgrace. A feeling of humiliation or loss of honour.

A noun central to Japanese culture, where shame plays a significant social role. 恥 can refer to personal embarrassment, social disgrace, or moral shame. The expression 恥をかく (to be embarrassed/to lose face) and 恥ずかしい (embarrassing/shy) are essential related words. Ruth Benedict's famous analysis of Japan as a 'shame culture' centres on this concept.

Examples

1. 人前で転んで恥をかいた。 I embarrassed myself by falling in front of people.
2. 知らないことは恥ではない。 Not knowing something is not a disgrace.
3. 旅の恥はかき捨てという言葉がある。 There's a saying: 'Shame on a journey can be thrown away.

Usage Guide

Context: social situations, proverbs, culture

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From Old Japanese haji. The kanji 恥 combines 耳 (ear) and 心 (heart) — the feeling in your heart when your ears burn with embarrassment.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal