愧 kuì ashamed
ashamed; regretful
怎么记住“愧”: 忄 heart + 鬼 ghost = ashamed. Dressed as a ghost, Max scares his little sister to tears, and his heart sinks as he takes off the sheet, ashamed.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
愧 = 忄 heart + 鬼 ghost
- 忄 heart meaning
- 鬼 ghost sound
Dressed as a ghost, Max scares his little sister to tears, and his heart sinks as he takes off the sheet, ashamed.
How it came to be
The heart gives the meaning and the ghost the sound; the word was first written with a woman where the heart is now.
用法
- Ashamed / guilty: 惭愧 (cánkuì) ashamed, 羞愧 (xiūkuì) shamefaced, 问心无愧 (wènxīn-wúkuì) to have a clear conscience.
- 不愧 (búkuì) flips it positive: 不愧是专家 (búkuì shì zhuānjiā) truly worthy of the name 'expert'.
- 当之无愧 (dāngzhī-wúkuì) = fully deserving (of an honor).