The kanji 恥 primarily conveys the concept of shame, embarrassment, or disgrace. It represents a feeling of mortification, dishonor, or a loss of face. It can also imply a sense of shyness or being self-conscious. This character reflects a complex emotion related to social norms, personal integrity, and the perception of oneself in relation to others.

・On-yomi (音読み): チ (chi) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): はじ (haji)

⚫︎恥ずかしい (hazukashii) Translation: embarrassing; shameful; shy ⚫︎恥をかく (haji o kaku) Translation: to be ashamed; to lose face; to suffer disgrace ⚫︎恥辱 (chijoku) Translation: disgrace; humiliation

The kanji 恥 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字, keisei moji). It is composed of two parts: the radical 心 (kokoro), meaning "heart" or "mind," and the phonetic component 耳 (mimi), meaning "ear." The combination suggests that shame is something felt in the heart, and that it may be experienced when one hears something that causes embarrassment or dishonor. The "ear" component provides the sound and hints at the association of shame with hearing something that affects one's reputation or sense of self-worth.