无地自容
无地自容 (wú dì zì róng) literally means “no ground to contain oneself” and expresses “extremely ashamed; wish to disappear”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: wu di zi rong, wu di zi rong,无地自容 meaning, 无地自容 in english
Extremely ashamed; wish to disappear
Pronunciation: wú dì zì róng
Literal meaning: No ground to contain oneself
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes having no (无) ground (地) to contain (容) oneself (自) - wishing to disappear from shame. The image of having nowhere to hide captures extreme embarrassment. The phrase appeared in texts describing disgrace so profound that the person wishes the earth would swallow them. Modern usage describes intense shame or embarrassment where one wants to disappear, often from public humiliation or exposure of wrongdoing.
Examples
English: "The public exposure left him feeling deeply ashamed."
Chinese: 公开曝光让他无地自容。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 无地自容 mean in English?
无地自容 (wú dì zì róng) literally translates to “No ground to contain oneself” and is used to express “Extremely ashamed; wish to disappear”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 无地自容 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving extremely ashamed; wish to disappear.
What is the pinyin for 无地自容?
The pinyin pronunciation for 无地自容 is “wú dì zì róng”.