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丢人 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
丢人diūrénto lose faceHSK 7, v, rank #4717, Hard
diūrén(diu1ren2) T1
  1. 1to lose face
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March 24, 2026
丢人(丟人)diūrén(diu1ren2)

The phrase 丢人 (diū rén) means to lose face or to embarrass oneself. It is commonly used in social contexts where an individual's actions lead to shame or a loss of reputation, often in front of others. This term emphasizes the importance of maintaining one's dignity and social standing in Chinese culture.

Frequency#4717DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, face (面子, miànzi) is a significant concept, representing one's social standing and dignity. Losing face can have serious implications in both personal and professional relationships, making this term particularly relevant in social discussions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person (人, rén) dropping (丢, diū) their dignity like a hot potato. Visualize them letting go of something valuable that represents their reputation, causing them to feel embarrassed. This visual can help link the pronunciation 'diū' to the act of losing something important.

Meanings of 丢人

diūrén(diu1ren2)
1to lose face
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 丢人

丢人Simplified
丟人Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4717Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 丢人

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Podcast: 丢人

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AI Study Notes for 丢人

Quick Contrast

丢脸 (diū liǎn) - use 丢人 when referring to losing face in a broader social context, while 丢脸 specifically emphasizes the aspect of embarrassment.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person (人, rén) dropping (丢, diū) their dignity like a hot potato. Visualize them letting go of something valuable that represents their reputation, causing them to feel embarrassed. This visual can help link the pronunciation 'diū' to the act of losing something important.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone of this phrase; it can be used in both serious and light-hearted contexts, but it may come off as harsh if used improperly. Common collocations include '丢人现眼' (to embarrass oneself in front of others). Avoid using it in overly formal situations as it is colloquial.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, understanding 丢人 connects with themes of social interactions and personal reputation present in other HSK 6 vocabulary. Students should focus on contextual usage and the emotional weight it carries in various situations.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, face (面子, miànzi) is a significant concept, representing one's social standing and dignity. Losing face can have serious implications in both personal and professional relationships, making this term particularly relevant in social discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 丢人 in inappropriate contexts, saying it when referring to a neutral situation, e.g., '我丢人因为我迟到了' (I lost face because I was late) instead of '我迟到了' (I was late). Correct usage should convey clear embarrassment.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 丢人

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Component Characters

diūto lose
HSK 36 strokes
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rénman
HSK 12 strokes
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Write 丢人

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

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Grammar Patterns of 丢人

丢人 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

他对一位英国大臣竟有如此____的举止感到厌恶。

He was disgusted that a British minister could have behaved so disgracefully.

Example Sentences for 丢人 (1)

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1
他对一位英国大臣竟有如此丢人的举止感到厌恶。

tā duì yī wèi yīng guó dà chén jìng yǒu rú cǐ diū rén de jǔ zhǐ gǎn dào yàn è。

He was disgusted that a British minister could have behaved so disgracefully.

Cultural Notes for 丢人

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, face (面子, miànzi) is a significant concept, representing one's social standing and dignity. Losing face can have serious implications in both personal and professional relationships, making this term particularly relevant in social discussions.

Frequently Asked Questions about 丢人

Yes, you can use it to describe another person losing face, but be mindful of the context to avoid sounding judgmental.