屈辱

• Reading: くつじょく
• Romaji: kutsujoku
• Kanji breakdown: 屈 (kutsu) — to bend, to yield; 辱 (joku) — shame, disgrace
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.tsɯ.dʑo.kɯ/

Meaning

Humiliation; disgrace. A painful feeling of shame or degradation.

A formal noun describing deep shame or disgrace, stronger than 恥 (shame). Often used in serious or dramatic contexts such as 屈辱を受ける (to suffer humiliation), 屈辱的 (humiliating), and 屈辱を晴らす (to avenge a humiliation). Common in literature, history, and formal speech.

Examples

1. あの試合での大敗は選手たちにとって大きな屈辱だった。 The crushing defeat in that match was a major humiliation for the players.
2. 屈辱的な扱いを受けても、彼は冷静さを保った。 Even after being treated in such a humiliating way, he kept his composure.
3. 彼女は受けた屈辱をバネにして、さらに努力した。 She used the humiliation she suffered as fuel to push herself even harder.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, history, sports

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 屈 (kutsu, to bend/submit) + 辱 (joku, shame/disgrace). Literally 'bending in shame' — being forced into a lowered, disgraced position.

Cultural Context

Era: Historical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal