辱

rǔ

寸 + 辰

Definitions

rǔ (verb) to insult; to humiliate

rǔ (noun) disgrace; dishonor; humiliation

rǔ (verb) to bring shame to

Etymology

Depicts a hand (寸) using a farming tool (辰) to remove dirty weeds. Based on the original meaning "to use a farming tool for weeding", now written as 耨. The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "disgrace" and "humiliate".

About

辱 is composed of 辰, an agricultural tool originally made from a clam shell and used for weeding, and 寸, meaning "hand". The character originally depicted a hand using this tool to weed fields, a meaning now written as 耨. Because such backbreaking labor was typically forced upon captives and those of low social standing, the meaning shifted from the physical act of weeding to the disgrace and humiliation endured by these laborers. Over time, 辱 lost its farming association and now exclusively denotes shame, dishonor, and the loss of dignity.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他绝不能接受这种侮辱。

Tā jué bù néng jiēshòu zhè zhǒng wǔrǔ.

He absolutely cannot accept this kind of insult.

这次失败对他来说是奇耻大辱。

Zhè cì shībài duì tā lái shuō shì qíchǐdàrǔ.

This failure is a burning disgrace to him.

侮辱他人是极不文明的行为。

Wǔrǔ tārén shì jí bù wénmíng de xíngwéi.

Insulting others is extremely uncivilized behavior.

我们要捍卫国家的荣誉，不容玷辱。

Wǒmen yào hànwèi guójiā de róngyù, bù róng diànrǔ.

We must defend the honor of our country and not allow it to be tarnished.

他忍受着屈辱，默默完成了工作。

Tā rěnshòuzhe qūrǔ, mòmò wánchéngle gōngzuò.

He endured the humiliation and silently finished the work.

历史的屈辱时刻提醒着我们奋发图强。

Lìshǐ de qūrǔ shíkè tíxǐngzhe wǒmen fènfā túqiáng.

The humiliating moments in history constantly remind us to strive for strength.

这种诽谤性的言论严重辱没了他的名声。

Zhè zhǒng fěibàng xìng de yánlùn yánzhòng rǔmòle tā de míngshēng.

This defamatory statement has severely sullied his reputation.

在强权面前不卑不亢，方能不辱使命。

Zài qiángquán miànqián bùbēibùkàng, fāng néng bù rǔ shǐmìng.

Only by being neither submissive nor arrogant in the face of power can one avoid failing the mission.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 寸

Component: 辰

辱