Definitions
(adjective)
ugly; unattractive
(adjective)
shameful; disgraceful
(noun)
2nd Earthly Branch, the Ox, 1:00-3:00 AM in the traditional timekeeping system
About
The character "丑" has a complex history where its form and function diverged significantly from its earliest origins. Initially, it represented a pictograph of a hand with curved fingers, a form which later became the basis for one of the Earthly Branches, a cyclical sign used in calendrical and astronomical systems. Its association with the meaning of "ugly" or "disgraceful" is actually a later borrowing, for which it served as a simplified, homophonic substitute for the more elaborate traditional character "醜". This traditional form is semantically constructed from the components "酉", representing wine or fermented liquor, and "鬼", meaning ghost or demon, conceptually painting a picture of a grotesque or frightening appearance akin to that of a drunken demon. Over centuries, the simpler "丑" gradually took over the meaning of ugliness in common usage, while still retaining its separate, original function within the traditional cyclical numbering system, resulting in a character that carries two distinct and unrelated meanings in modern language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这个娃娃很丑。
她不喜欢丑的东西。
他的行为很丑陋。
丑角在舞台上表演。
这桩丑闻震惊了全国。
不要丑化别人的形象。
他揭露了公司的丑恶内幕。
丑恶势力最终会被打败。