Idiom: 自慚形穢 (zì cán xíng huì)
Literal Meaning: “Ashamed of one’s own inferiority.”
Explanation: This idiom refers to feeling ashamed or inferior when comparing oneself to others who are more talented or better in some way.
Chinese Idiom Stories
In ancient China, there was a scholar who was exceptionally talented and well-respected. When others compared themselves to him, they felt embarrassed and ashamed of their own abilities, realizing they couldn’t match his skills. This feeling of inferiority and self-doubt led to the expression “自慚形穢,” meaning one feels ashamed when they believe they don’t measure up to others.
This idiom is used to describe moments when someone feels inadequate or unworthy compared to the excellence of others.
Idiom Example Sentences
- 他看到同學的才華後，忍不住自慚形穢。
- Tā kàn dào tóngxué de cáihuá hòu, rěnbuzhù zì cán xíng huì.
- After seeing his classmate’s talent, he couldn’t help but feel ashamed of his own shortcomings.
- 每當與那位學識淵博的教授交談時，我總是覺得自慚形穢，因為自己了解的實在太少了。
- Měi dāng yǔ nà wèi xuéshì yuānbó de jiàoshòu jiāotán shí, wǒ zǒng shì juédé zìcánxínghuì, yīnwèi zìjǐ liǎojiě de shízài tài shǎo le.
- Whenever I converse with that knowledgeable professor, I always feel ashamed of my own inadequacies because I know so little.
- 面對這麼多優秀的同事，他開始自慚形穢，覺得自己還需要更加努力。
- Miàn duì zhème duō yōuxiù de tóngshì, tā kāishǐ zìcánxínghuì, juéde zìjǐ hái xūyào gèngjiā nǔlì.
- Facing so many outstanding colleagues, he began to feel inferior, thinking he needed to work even harder.
Practice Exercise
1. Short Answer:
Describe a moment when you or someone else might feel “自慚形穢 (zì cán xíng huì)” in a social or academic setting.
2. Sentence Creation:
Use “自慚形穢 (zì cán xíng huì)” in a sentence to describe someone’s feelings of inferiority.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What does “自慚形穢” describe?
A. Feeling confident and proud
B. Feeling ashamed and inferior to others
C. Feeling excited about success
D. Feeling happy for someone else’s achievements
(Answer: B)
2. In which situation can you use “自慚形穢”?
A. When you feel confident in your work
B. When you believe you are better than others
C. When you feel ashamed after comparing yourself to someone more talented
D. When you win a competition and feel proud
(Answer: C)
