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无耻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
无耻wúchǐwithout any sense of shameHSK 7, a, rank #5656, Hard
无耻wúchǐunembarrassedHSK 7, a, rank #5656, Hard
无耻wúchǐshamelessHSK 7, a, rank #5656, Hard
wúchǐ(wu2chi3) T2
  1. 1without any sense of shame
  2. 2unembarrassed
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March 24, 2026
无耻(無恥)wúchǐ(wu2chi3)

无耻 (wú chǐ) describes a lack of shame or embarrassment, often used to criticize someone's behavior that is morally or socially unacceptable. It can refer to actions that are brazenly inappropriate or devoid of self-respect, commonly found in discussions about ethics and morality.

Frequency#5656DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, maintaining face and avoiding shame is highly valued; thus, being labeled as 无耻 can have serious social implications. It reflects not only personal integrity but also affects family reputation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person standing on a stage, completely naked, boldly proclaiming their actions without a hint of shame. The character '无' (wú) means 'without' and '耻' (chǐ) means 'shame', together they form the idea of being 'without shame', making it easier to remember the pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 无耻

wúchǐ(wu2chi3)
1without any sense of shame
2unembarrassed
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 无耻

无耻Simplified
無恥Traditional
Strokes
Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5656Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 无耻

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Podcast: 无耻

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AI Study Notes for 无耻

Quick Contrast

无耻 (wúchǐ) vs 不知羞耻 (bù zhī xiū chǐ) — use 无耻 for a direct description of shamelessness, while 不知羞耻 emphasizes a lack of awareness about being shameless.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person standing on a stage, completely naked, boldly proclaiming their actions without a hint of shame. The character '无' (wú) means 'without' and '耻' (chǐ) means 'shame', together they form the idea of being 'without shame', making it easier to remember the pronunciation and meaning.

Usage Notes

无耻 is typically used in negative contexts and can come off as strong or rude, so be mindful of your tone when using it. Common collocations include 无耻行为 (shameless behavior) and 无耻的人 (shameless person). Avoid using it in formal situations as it may be considered too harsh.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 无耻 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to behavior and ethics, such as 道德 (moral) and 羞愧 (shame). Focus on understanding its usage in context, particularly in discussions about morality and social conduct.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, maintaining face and avoiding shame is highly valued; thus, being labeled as 无耻 can have serious social implications. It reflects not only personal integrity but also affects family reputation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 无耻 with 羞愧 (xiū kuì), which means 'ashamed'. For example, saying '他是个羞愧的人' ('He is an ashamed person') when wanting to convey shamelessness would be incorrect; the proper phrase would be '他是个无耻的人'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 无耻

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Component Characters

-less
HSK 44 strokes
View full entry
chǐshame
10 strokes
View full entry

Write 无耻

Practice writing 无耻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 无耻

无耻 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高,not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

这位大名鼎鼎的电影制片人声色俱厉地抨击了这些说法,称之为“____的谎言”。

The famed film-maker slammed the claims as "an outrageous lie"

Example Sentences for 无耻 (7)

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1
这位大名鼎鼎的电影制片人声色俱厉地抨击了这些说法,称之为“无耻的谎言”。

zhè wèi dà míng dǐng dǐng de diàn yǐng zhì piàn rén shēng sè jù lì dì pēng jī le zhè xiē shuō fǎ, , chēng zhī“ wéi “ wú chǐ de”。

The famed film-maker slammed the claims as "an outrageous lie"
2
这伙歹徒如此胆大妄为、厚颜无耻,让我很是震惊。

zhè huǒ dǎi tú rú cǐ dǎn dà wàng wéi、 、 hòu yán wú, chǐ , ràng wǒ hěn shì。

I was shocked at the audacity and brazenness of the gangsters.
3
安妮认为梅维斯是个厚颜无耻的骗子,这显然是经过一番深思熟虑后才得出的看法。

ān nī rèn wéi méi wéi sī shì gè hòu yán wú chǐ de piàn zǐ, , zhè xiǎn rán shì jīng guò yī fān shēn sī shú lǜ hòu cái dé chū de kàn。

Obviously it was Anne's considered opinion that Mavis was a bold-faced liar.
4
这一罪行如此卑鄙无耻,大家都不想声张出去。

zhè yī zuì háng rú cǐ bēi bǐ wú chǐ, , dà jiā dū bù xiǎng shēng zhāng chū。

The crime was so base that everyone wanted to hush it up.
5
他们已经无耻到把能用的武器都用上了。

tā mén yǐ jīng wú chǐ dào bǎ néng yòng de wǔ qì dū yòng shàng le。

They've stooped to using any and every weapon at their disposal.
6
苏小姐骂方鸿 渐 无耻,实在是冤枉.

sū xiǎo jiě mà fāng hóng jiàn, wú chǐ , shí zài.

Miss Su's condemnation of Fang Hung - chien for being shameless was actually unjust.
7
我还是认为,他们寄来优惠购物券,而不是退款,真是有些厚颜无耻。

wǒ huán shì rèn wéi, , tā mén jì lái yōu huì gòu wù, quàn , ér bù shì, tuì kuǎn , zhēn shì yǒu xiē hòu。

I still think it's a bit of a cheek sending a voucher rather than a refund.

Cultural Notes for 无耻

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, maintaining face and avoiding shame is highly valued; thus, being labeled as 无耻 can have serious social implications. It reflects not only personal integrity but also affects family reputation.

Frequently Asked Questions about 无耻

No, 无耻 specifically refers to a lack of shame, implying a moral judgment rather than just embarrassment.