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Shame in Chinese / Japanese...

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Personalize your custom “Shame” project by clicking the button next to your favorite “Shame” title below...

Sense of Shame / Sense of Honor / Integrity / Modesty (Korean)

 lián chǐ
 ren chi
Sense of Shame / Sense of Honor / Integrity / Modesty (Korean) Scroll

廉恥 simultaneously means “sense of honor” and “sense of shame” in Korean.

This term is often used as a tenet of Taekwondo, where the English terms “integrity” and “modesty” are applied.

廉恥 is also a Chinese word, though it is usually read with the “sense of shame” meaning, and is a poor choice for a wall scroll if your audience is Chinese.

Learning leads to Knowledge, Study leads to Benevolence, Shame leads to Courage

 hào xué jìn hū zhī lì xíng jìn hū rén zhī chǐ jìn hū yǒng
Learning leads to Knowledge, Study leads to Benevolence, Shame leads to Courage Scroll

好學近乎知力行近乎仁知恥近乎勇 is a Saying from Confucius which relates certain actions to virtues.

A more verbose translation:
To love learning is akin to knowledge,
to study diligently is akin to benevolence,
to know shame is akin to courage.

Beautiful Woman Proverb

 chén yú luò yàn
 chin gyo raku gan
Beautiful Woman Proverb Scroll

沈魚落雁 is an old proverb that literally means “fish sink, goose alights.”

...But this takes some explaining. This is a proverb from Zhuangzi (莊子), who lived in the late 4th century BC.

This figuratively refers to female beauty that is so captivating that even the birds and beasts take notice.

Perhaps a better and more accurate way to describe this is to say that it speaks of the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman who is so beautiful that fish stay on the bottom of the water and flying wild geese fall from the sky in shame.

This proverb is so famous that it is also known and used in Japan (same characters, different pronunciation).


Note: This can also be written 沉魚落雁 instead of 沈魚落雁 (just the first character varies slightly).

Death Before Dishonor

Better to be broken jade than unbroken pottery

 níng wéi yù suì bù wéi wǎ quán
Death Before Dishonor Scroll

寧為玉碎不為瓦全 is the long version of a Chinese proverb that means “rather be shattered piece of jade than an unbroken piece of pottery.”

A little more explanation:
Death is implied with the “broken” meaning. Jade is one of the most precious materials in Chinese history, and in this case, is compared with one's honor and self-worth. Pottery is just something you eat off of, it has no deep value, just as a person who has lost their honor, or had none to begin with.
Thus, this means “better to die with honor than to live in shame” or words to that effect.

寧為玉碎不為瓦全 is often translated in English as “Death Before Dishonor,” the famous military slogan.

I would also compare this to the English proverb, “Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”


This is an idiom. It therefore doesn’t directly say exactly what it means. If you think about the English idiom, "The grass is always greener," it does not directly say "jealousy" or "envy" but everyone knows that it is implied.

Death Before Dishonor

Better to be broken jade than unbroken pottery

 níng wéi yù suì
Death Before Dishonor Scroll

寧為玉碎 is the short version of a longer Chinese proverb which means “rather be shattered piece of jade than an unbroken piece of pottery.”

寧為玉碎 says the “rather be a broken piece of jade” part (the second half is implied - everyone in China knows this idiom).

A little more explanation:
Death is implied with the “broken” meaning. Jade is one of the most precious materials in Chinese history, and in this case, is compared with one's honor and self-worth. Pottery is just something you eat off of; it has no deep value, just as a person who has lost their honor or had none to begin with.
Thus, this means “better to die with honor than to live in shame” or words to that effect.

This is often translated in English as “Death Before Dishonor,” the famous military slogan.

I would also compare this to the English proverb, “Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”

Guanxi

The Chinese Concept of Relationship and Exchange of Favors

 guān xì
 kankei
Guanxi Scroll

The dictionary definition is:
Relations/relationship, to concern, to affect, to have to do with, or connection.

But there's more to it...

In China, the relationship that you have with certain people can open doors for you. Having guanxi with someone also means they would never defraud you but are honor-bound to treat you fairly (of course, this goes both ways). Sometimes it is suggested that guanxi is the exchange of favors. 關繫 / 関繫 / 關係 is more about having a relationship that allows you to ask for and expect favors without shame.

There is no concept in western culture that exactly matches guanxi, but perhaps having a social or professional network is similar.

Note that there are some variations common within Chinese, Japanese Kanji, and Korean Hanja for this word...

関Japanese tend to use a Chinese alternate form as shown to the right for
the first character.

關There's also another alternate form of that first character (currently used as the official Simplified form in mainland China) which looks like the character shown to the right. It's basically the central radical of the alternate version shown above but without the “door radical” around it. In more free-flowing calligraphy styles, this version would be the likely choice for a calligrapher.

係In Modern Japanese, they use the character shown to the right.
They also tend to use this same form in Korean Hanja (I've only checked this word in my Korean dictionary, but it has not been confirmed by a translator's review).

系If that was not confusing enough, there is another alternate form of that second character. See right.

An Asian calligrapher of any nationality may use these forms at their discretion. However, They would tend to stick to the most common form used in their respective languages.

If you have any preference on any of these issues, please give us a special note with your order, and we'll make sure it's done the way you want.


These search terms might be related to Shame:

Death Before Dishonor

Not the results for shame that you were looking for?

Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your shame search...

Characters

If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese

Pronunciation
Romanization
Simple Dictionary Definition

廉恥


廉耻

see styles
lián chǐ
    lian2 chi3
lien ch`ih
    lien chih
 renchi
    れんち
honor and shame; sense of honor
sense of honour (honor)

沈魚落雁


沉鱼落雁

see styles
chén yú luò yàn
    chen2 yu2 luo4 yan4
ch`en yü lo yen
    chen yü lo yen
 chingyorakugan
    ちんぎょらくがん

More info & calligraphy:

Beautiful Woman Proverb
variant of 沉魚落雁|沉鱼落雁[chen2 yu2 luo4 yan4]
(yoji) charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; (so beautiful that) fish stay on the bottom of water and flying wild geese fall from the sky in shame

see styles
tiǎn
    tian3
t`ien
    tien
to shame


see styles
chǐ
    chi3
ch`ih
    chih
 hatsuru
    はつる
(bound form) shame; humiliation; disgrace
shame; embarrassment; disgrace; (given name) Hatsuru
to be ashamed

see styles
kuì
    kui4
k`uei
    kuei
 gi
ashamed
Ashamed, intp. as ashamed for the misdeeds of others. v. 慚.


see styles
cán
    can2
ts`an
    tsan
 zan
variant of 慚|惭[can2]
shame


see styles
cán
    can2
ts`an
    tsan
 zan
ashamed
Shame, ashamed; i.e. for one's own faults, cf. 愧.

see styles
xiū
    xiu1
hsiu
shy; ashamed; shame; bashful; variant of 饈|馐[xiu1]; delicacies

see styles
chǐ
    chi3
ch`ih
    chih
 chi
    はじ
shame; embarrassment; disgrace
Shame; ashamed.

see styles
sào
    sao4
sao
 sō
shame; bashfulness; to shame; to humiliate
Rancid, rank; shame; translit. su, in臊陀 intp. as śuka, parrot; more correctly 叔迦.

see styles

    xi4
hsi
shame; disgrace

see styles
nǎn
    nan3
nan
blushing with shame

see styles

    ru3
ju
 joku
    はじ
disgrace; dishonor; to insult; to bring disgrace or humiliation to; to be indebted to; self-deprecating; Taiwan pr. [ru4]
(out-dated or obsolete kana usage) shame; embarrassment; disgrace
shame


see styles
chǒu
    chou3
ch`ou
    chou
 muneyuki
    むねゆき
shameful; ugly; disgraceful
(noun or adjectival noun) (1) ugliness; (2) shame; disgrace; (personal name) Muneyuki
Ugly, shameful, shame, disgraceful.

七聖


七圣

see styles
qī shèng
    qi1 sheng4
ch`i sheng
    chi sheng
 nanasei / nanase
    ななせい
(male given name) Nanasei
v.七賢, 七聖, 七聖財, saptadhana. The seven sacred graces variously defined, e.g. 信 faith, 戒 observation of the commandments, 聞hearing instruction, 慙 shame (for self), 愧 shame (for others); 捨 renunciation; and慧 wisdom.

上塗

see styles
 uwanuri
    うわぬり
(noun/participle) (1) (final) coat (of paint, plaster, glazing, etc.); finish; (2) adding more of the same (e.g. shame)

俯く

see styles
 utsumuku
    うつむく
(Godan verb with "ku" ending) (kana only) to hang one's head in shame; to look downward; to cast one's eyes down

八纏


八缠

see styles
bā chán
    ba1 chan2
pa ch`an
    pa chan
 hachiden
The eight entanglements, or evils: to be without shame; without a blush; envious; mean; unregretful; sleepy (or indolent); ambitious; stupid (or depressed).

写メ

see styles
 shame
    しゃメ
(noun/participle) (1) (abbreviation) (colloquialism) (See 写メール・1) email with attached photos sent from a mobile phone; (noun/participle) (2) (abbreviation) (colloquialism) photo taken with a mobile phone; taking a photo with a mobile phone

十德

see styles
shí dé
    shi2 de2
shih te
 jittoku
The ten virtues, powers, or qualities, of which there are several groups, e.g. in the 華嚴經,十地品 there are 法師十德 the ten virtues of a teacher of the Law, i.e. he should be well versed in its meaning; able widely to publish it; not be nervous before an audience; be untiring in argument; adaptable; orderly so that his teaching can be easily followed; serious and dignified; bold and zealous; unwearied; and enduring (able to bear insult, etc.). The 弟子十德 ten virtues or qualities of a disciple according to the 大日經疏 4, are faith; sincerity; devotion to the trikāya; (seeking the) adornment of true wisdom; perseverance; moral purity; patience (or bearing shame); generosity in giving; courage; resoluteness.

十心

see styles
shí xīn
    shi2 xin1
shih hsin
 jisshin
The ten kinds of heart or mind; there are three groups. One is from the 止觀 4, minds ignorant and dark; affected by evil companions; not following the good; doing evil in thought, word, deed; spreading evil abroad; unceasingly wicked; secret sin; open crime; utterly shameless; denying cause and effect (retribution)―all such must remain in the flow 流 of reincarnation. The second group (from the same book) is the 逆流 the mind striving against the stream of perpetual reincarnation; it shows itself in devout faith, shame (for sin), fear (of wrong-doing), repentance and confession, reform, bodhi (i.e. the bodhisattva mind), doing good, maintaining the right law, thinking on all the Buddhas, meditation on the void (or, the unreality of sin). The third is the 眞言 group from the 大日經疏 3; the "seed" heart (i.e. the original good desire), the sprout (under Buddhist religious influence), the bud, leaf, flower, fruit, its serviceableness; the child-heart, the discriminating heart, the heart of settled judgment (or resolve).

四維


四维

see styles
sì wéi
    si4 wei2
ssu wei
 yotsui
    よつい
the four social bonds: propriety, justice, integrity and honor; see 禮義廉恥|礼义廉耻[li3 yi4 lian2 chi3]; the four directions; the four limbs (Chinese medicine); four-dimensional
(1) (See 四隅・2) four ordinal directions; (2) (しい only) (from Guanzi) four cardinal principles of the state (propriety, justice, integrity, sense of shame); (surname) Yotsui
The four half points of the compass, N. E., N. W., S. E., S. W.

大恥


大耻

see styles
dà chǐ
    da4 chi3
ta ch`ih
    ta chih
 oohaji
    おおはじ
great shame; great disgrace; harsh humiliation; deep embarrassment; unbearable loss of face
greatly ashamed

尤詬


尤诟

see styles
yóu gòu
    you2 gou4
yu kou
shame; disgrace

恥じ

see styles
 haji
    はじ
(irregular okurigana usage) shame; embarrassment; disgrace

恥辱


耻辱

see styles
chǐ rǔ
    chi3 ru3
ch`ih ju
    chih ju
 chijoku
    ちじょく
disgrace; shame; humiliation
disgrace; shame; insult

恥部

see styles
 chibu
    ちぶ
(1) private parts; privates; genitalia; secret place; (2) disgraceful thing; shame; embarrassment; underbelly

感愧

see styles
gǎn kuì
    gan3 kui4
kan k`uei
    kan kuei
to feel gratitude mixed with shame

愧恨

see styles
kuì hèn
    kui4 hen4
k`uei hen
    kuei hen
ashamed and sorry; suffering shame and remorse

愧死

see styles
 kishi
    きし
(n,vs,vi) (See 慙死) dying of shame; being so ashamed one wants to die

Click here for more shame results from our dictionary

The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...

Title CharactersRomaji (Romanized Japanese)Various forms of Romanized Chinese
Sense of Shame
Sense of Honor
Integrity
Modesty (Korean)
廉恥
廉耻
ren chi / renchilián chǐ / lian2 chi3 / lian chi / lianchilien ch`ih / lienchih / lien chih
Learning leads to Knowledge, Study leads to Benevolence, Shame leads to Courage好學近乎知力行近乎仁知恥近乎勇
好学近乎知力行近乎仁知耻近乎勇
hào xué jìn hū zhī lì xíng jìn hū rén zhī chǐ jìn hū yǒng
hao4 xue2 jin4 hu1 zhi1 li4 xing2 jin4 hu1 ren2 zhi1 chi3 jin4 hu1 yong3
hao xue jin hu zhi li xing jin hu ren zhi chi jin hu yong
hao hsüeh chin hu chih li hsing chin hu jen chih ch`ih chin hu yung
hao hsüeh chin hu chih li hsing chin hu jen chih chih chin hu yung
Beautiful Woman Proverb沈魚落雁
沈鱼落雁
chin gyo raku gan
chingyorakugan
chén yú luò yàn
chen2 yu2 luo4 yan4
chen yu luo yan
chenyuluoyan
ch`en yü lo yen
chenyüloyen
chen yü lo yen
Death Before Dishonor寧為玉碎不為瓦全
宁为玉碎不为瓦全
níng wéi yù suì bù wéi wǎ quán
ning2 wei2 yu4 sui4 bu4 wei2 wa3 quan2
ning wei yu sui bu wei wa quan
ningweiyusuibuweiwaquan
ning wei yü sui pu wei wa ch`üan
ning wei yü sui pu wei wa chüan
Death Before Dishonor寧為玉碎
宁为玉碎
níng wéi yù suì
ning2 wei2 yu4 sui4
ning wei yu sui
ningweiyusui
ning wei yü sui
ningweiyüsui
Guanxi關繫 / 関繫 / 關係
关系 / 関係
kankeiguān xì / guan1 xi4 / guan xi / guanxikuan hsi / kuanhsi
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line.
In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese.


Dictionary

Lookup Shame in my Japanese & Chinese Dictionary


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When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
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Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!

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A nice Chinese calligraphy wall scroll

The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.

A professional Chinese Calligrapher

Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.

There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form of art alive.

Trying to learn Chinese calligrapher - a futile effort

Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.

A high-ranked Chinese master calligrapher that I met in Zhongwei

The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.


Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.

Some people may refer to this entry as Shame Kanji, Shame Characters, Shame in Mandarin Chinese, Shame Characters, Shame in Chinese Writing, Shame in Japanese Writing, Shame in Asian Writing, Shame Ideograms, Chinese Shame symbols, Shame Hieroglyphics, Shame Glyphs, Shame in Chinese Letters, Shame Hanzi, Shame in Japanese Kanji, Shame Pictograms, Shame in the Chinese Written-Language, or Shame in the Japanese Written-Language.

245 people have searched for Shame in Chinese or Japanese in the past year.
Shame was last searched for by someone else on Apr 20th, 2026