厚顔無恥(こうがんむち)

FOUR-CHARACTER IDIOM (四字熟語(よじじゅくご))

Literal meaning: 厚顔(こうがん) (thick face/skin) + 無恥(むち) (no shame) = Having a thick skin and no shame.

Common patterns

• 厚顔無恥(こうがんむち)な＋noun (shameless ~)
• 厚顔無恥(こうがんむち)にも (shamelessly)
• 厚顔無恥(こうがんむち)な人(ひと) (a shameless person)

Common collocations

• 厚顔無恥(こうがんむち)な態度(たいど) (shameless attitude)
• 厚顔無恥(こうがんむち)な行為(こうい) (brazen act)
• 厚顔無恥(こうがんむち)にも平気(へいき)で (shamelessly and without hesitation)

Nuance: Strongly negative, used to criticize someone who should feel ashamed but doesn't.

English equivalents

• Shameless
• Brazen
• Thick-skinned
• Having no shame

Related words

• 図々(ずうずう)しい - shameless, brazen (colloquial)
• 恥知(はじし)らず - shameless person
• 厚(あつ)かましい - impudent, shameless
• 傍若無人(ぼうじゃくぶじん) - arrogant, acting as if no one exists