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道Nihongo Path
恥

恥·shame

On-yomi
チ
Kun-yomi
は(じる)はじは(ずかしい)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

10 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
恥ずかしいはずかしいembarrassing, ashamed
恥はじshame, disgrace
恥じるはじるto feel ashamed
無恥むちshamelessness

Example sentences

  1. 人前で歌うのは恥ずかしい。

    ひとまえでうたうのははずかしい。

    Singing in front of people is embarrassing.

  2. 知らないことを聞くのは恥ではない。

    しらないことをきくのははじではない。

    There is no shame in asking about what you do not know.

  3. 彼は自分の失敗を深く恥じている。

    かれはじぶんのしっぱいをふかくはじている。

    He is deeply ashamed of his failure.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading the standalone noun 恥 as ち — on its own it is はじ
  • Mixing up 恥ずかしい (embarrassed) with 怖い (scared)

Memory aid

Picture it

Your ear (耳) burning above your heart (心) — that hot-eared feeling is shame.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 恥 mean?