惭 cán ashamed
ashamed; humiliated
怎么记住“惭”: 忄 heart + 斩 to chop = ashamed. Trying to chop onions like a TV chef, Ben cuts the tablecloth in half, and his heart sinks as he stands there ashamed.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
惭 = 忄 heart + 斩 to chop
- 忄 heart meaning
- 斩 to chop sound
Trying to chop onions like a TV chef, Ben cuts the tablecloth in half, and his heart sinks as he stands there ashamed.
How it came to be
The heart gives the meaning and the sign for chop gives the sound.
用法
- Bound; ashamed, mainly in 惭愧 (cánkuì), to feel ashamed/abashed: 我很惭愧 (wǒ hěn cánkuì) I'm truly ashamed.
- 惭愧 often works as a modest deflection of praise: 'you flatter me, I don't deserve it.'
- 大言不惭 (dàyán-bùcán) = to boast shamelessly.