家丑

家醜
jiāchǒu
noun #34,474

Meanings

  1. 1 family scandal; family disgrace
  2. 2 skeleton in the closet

Examples

Jiāchǒu bù kě wài yáng.
Family scandals shouldn't be aired in public.
Tā cóng bú zài péngyou miànqián tí jiāchǒu.
He never brings up family scandals in front of friends.

Tips

culture
家丑不可 ('a family scandal must not be spread abroad') is the canonical proverb here, capturing the deep Chinese norm of protecting family face (面子). Western 'don't air dirty laundry in public' is the closest English equivalent.

Stroke Order

jiā
chǒu