惭

慙/慚

cán

忄 + 斩

Definitions

cán variant of 慚|惭[cán]

cán ashamed

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 斩 represents the sound. Simplified form of 慚.

Semantic: 忄 Phonetic: 斩

About

The character 惭 (cán), simplified from 慚, is a phonosemantic compound that serves as an adjective or verb for feeling ashamed, embarrassed, or deeply regretful. The left radical 忄 (the vertical form of 心, the heart radical) indicates the character belongs to the realm of emotions and psychology. The right component 斩 (zhǎn), the simplified form of 斬 meaning to chop, sever, or behead, provides the pronunciation. The idea of cutting adds a connotation of sharp, piercing guilt or moral failing, and the character is commonly used in compound words to convey profound self-reproach or mortification in social or ethical situations.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我为此事感到惭愧。

Wǒ wèi cǐ shì gǎndào cánkuì.

I feel ashamed about this matter.

他惭愧地承认了错误。

Tā cánkuì de chéngrènle cuòwù.

He admitted his mistake shamefully.

没有帮助朋友，我很惭愧。

Méiyǒu bāngzhù péngyǒu, wǒ hěn cánkuì.

I am ashamed that I didn't help my friend.

看到自己的不足，他心中充满惭愧。

Kàndào zìjǐ de bùzú, tā xīnzhōng chōngmǎn cánkuì.

Seeing his own shortcomings, he is filled with shame in his heart.

在大家的表扬面前，他反而觉得有些惭愧。

Zài dàjiā de biǎoyáng miànqián, tā fǎn'ér juéde yǒuxiē cánkuì.

In the face of everyone's praise, he instead feels somewhat ashamed.

尽管他已经道歉，但内心的惭愧依然难以平复。

Jǐnguǎn tā yǐjīng dàoqiàn, dàn nèixīn de cánkuì yīrán nányǐ píngfù.

Although he has already apologized, the shame in his heart is still difficult to calm.

每当想起那次失败的经历，他都不禁感到深深的惭愧。

Měi dāng xiǎngqǐ nà cì shībài de jīnglì, tā dōu bùjīn gǎndào shēnshēn de cánkuì.

Whenever he thinks of that failed experience, he can't help but feel deep shame.

在认识到自己的行为对他人造成伤害后，她产生了前所未有的惭愧之情。

Zài rènshí dào zìjǐ de xíngwéi duì tārén zàochéng shānghài hòu, tā chǎnshēngle qiánsuǒwèiyǒu de cánkuì zhī qíng.

After realizing that her actions had caused harm to others, she felt an unprecedented sense of shame.

Related Characters

Component: 忄

Component: 斩

惭