1.
shame, disgrace, embarrassment, humiliation
The feeling of shame or embarrassment, or the state of being disgraced. A central concept in Japanese culture, where awareness of how one is perceived by others plays an important social role.
恥をかいた。
I was embarrassed. / I made a fool of myself.
恥を知れ。
Know your shame. / You should be ashamed.
旅の恥はかき捨てというが、やはり恥ずかしいものは恥ずかしい。
They say embarrassment while traveling can be forgotten, but what's embarrassing is still embarrassing.
恥 is a fundamental concept in Japanese social behavior. Japan is often described as a "shame culture" where social awareness of others' judgment plays a major role.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 恥をかく: to be embarrassed, to be put to shame
- 恥を知る: to know shame, to have a sense of propriety
- 恥を知れ: shame on you (rebuke)
- 恥をかかせる: to embarrass someone
- 恥ずかしい: embarrassing, shameful (related adjective)
PROVERBS:
- 旅の恥はかき捨て: embarrassment while traveling can be thrown away (people act more freely away from home)
- 聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥: asking is a moment's shame, not asking is a lifetime's shame
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 恥: shame, disgrace (the concept or state)
- 恥ずかしい: embarrassing, ashamed (adjective, the feeling)
- 恥辱: disgrace, humiliation (formal, severe)