自惭形秽
自惭形秽 (zì cán xíng huì) literally means “ashamed of one's appearance” and expresses “feeling inferior”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: zi can xing hui, zi can xing hui,自惭形秽 meaning, 自惭形秽 in english
Feeling inferior
Pronunciation: zì cán xíng huì Literal meaning: Ashamed of one's appearance
Origin & Usage
The idiom 自惭形秽 (zì cán xíng huì) originates from the classical Chinese text 《世说新语》 (Shì Shuō Xīn Yǔ) by Liu Yiqing during the Southern Song Dynasty. The story involves a general named Wang Ji (王济) who, despite his own good looks and reputation, felt inferior when compared to his nephew Wei Jie (卫玠), a young man of exceptional beauty and talent. Upon seeing Wei Jie, Wang Ji remarked that standing next to such a 'pearl and jade' (珠玉) made him feel like an 'ugly stone' (形秽). The idiom literally means 'ashamed of one's own appearance' and is used to express feelings of inadequacy when comparing oneself to others. In modern usage, it reflects the human tendency to feel self-conscious or inferior in the presence of someone perceived as superior.
Examples
English: "She felt self-conscious and ashamed when she compared herself to her more accomplished peers."
Chinese: 她看到更优秀的同龄人时，自惭形秽。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 自惭形秽 mean in English?
自惭形秽 (zì cán xíng huì) literally translates to “Ashamed of one's appearance” and is used to express “Feeling inferior”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 自惭形秽 used?
Situation: She felt self-conscious and ashamed when she compared herself to her more accomplished peers.
What is the pinyin for 自惭形秽?
The pinyin pronunciation for 自惭形秽 is “zì cán xíng huì”.