Definition
愧 is a bound morpheme (b.f.) meaning 'ashamed' or 'guilty'. It cannot stand alone as a word; it appears in compounds and set phrases such as 惭愧 (cánkuì, 'ashamed'), 问心无愧 (wènxīn wúkuì, 'to have a clear conscience'), and 愧疚 (kuìjiù, 'guilt-ridden'). You'll encounter it most often in formal or written contexts.
b.f.
(bound form) ashamedguilty
Examples
- ，。Kǎoshì méi kǎo hǎo, wǒ hěn cánkuì.I didn't do well on the exam, so I feel very ashamed.
- ，。Tā zuò shì guāngmíng lěiluò, wènxīn wúkuì.He acts openly and honestly, with a clear conscience.
- 。Tā duì céngjīng de xíngwéi gǎndào shēnqiè de kuì jiù.She felt deep guilt over her past actions.
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