害羞

hàixiū

adjective HSK 7 #3,818

Meanings

1 shy; bashful
2 embarrassed

Characters

to feel; to cause (here: to feel)

Here 害 doesn't mean 'harm' but 'to feel' (an older usage preserved in this word).

Examples

她害羞地低下了头。

Tā hàixiū de dīxià le tóu.

She shyly lowered her head.

别害羞，大声说出来。

Bié hàixiū, dàshēng shuō chūlái.

Don't be shy, say it out loud.

他是个很害羞的人。

Tā shì ge hěn hàixiū de rén.

He's a very shy person.

Tips

history

The 害 in 害羞 preserves an archaic meaning of 'to feel' (as in experiencing an emotion), not 'to harm.' The same usage appears in 害怕 (hàipà, to feel afraid).

Stroke Order

害 hài

羞 xiū