愧 kuì ashamed
ashamed; regretful
How to remember 愧: 忄 heart + 鬼 ghost = ashamed. Dressed as a ghost, Max scares his little sister to tears, and his heart sinks as he takes off the sheet, ashamed.
Component breakdown
愧 = 忄 heart + 鬼 ghost
- 忄 heart
- 鬼 ghost
Dressed as a ghost, Max scares his little sister to tears, and his heart sinks as he takes off the sheet, ashamed.
How it is used
- Ashamed / guilty: 惭愧 (cánkuì) ashamed, 羞愧 (xiūkuì) shamefaced, 问心无愧 (wènxīn-wúkuì) to have a clear conscience.
- 不愧 (búkuì) flips it positive: 不愧是专家 (búkuì shì zhuānjiā) truly worthy of the name 'expert'.
- 当之无愧 (dāngzhī-wúkuì) = fully deserving (of an honor).