chǒu: 丑 - Ugly, Shameful, Disgraceful

• Keywords: chou, chǒu, 丑, ugly in Chinese, what does chou mean, shameful in Chinese, disgraceful, Chinese zodiac Chou, ugly-cute, 丑陋, 难看, 丢脸, 出丑
• Summary: The Chinese character 丑 (chǒu) is a versatile term most directly translating to “ugly.” However, its meaning extends far beyond physical appearance, delving into abstract concepts of “shameful” and “disgraceful” behavior, a core aspect of social conduct in China. Understanding chǒu is key to grasping the link between aesthetics and morality in Chinese culture, including concepts like “losing face.” It also functions as the second of the twelve Earthly Branches in the Chinese zodiac, associated with the Ox, showcasing its deep roots in Chinese tradition.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chǒu
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Ugly or unattractive; shameful or disgraceful.
• In a Nutshell: At its simplest, 丑 (chǒu) is the word for “ugly.” If something is visually displeasing, it's 丑. But the concept doesn't stop at the surface. It's frequently used to describe actions, behaviors, or situations that are morally “ugly”—scandalous, shameful, or disgraceful. This dual meaning is crucial. Think of it as describing not just an ugly face, but also an “ugly” truth or an “ugly” scandal. Separately, it has a completely unrelated meaning as a proper noun in the Chinese zodiac.

• 丑 (chǒu): This is a single-component character with ancient origins. One common etymological theory suggests it was originally a pictogram of a gnarled, twisted hand or a clown's mask. This image of being twisted or distorted provides a memorable link to its core meaning of “ugly” or “unsightly.” Over time, this character was also borrowed to represent the second of the twelve Earthly Branches (地支, dìzhī) in the Chinese calendar and zodiac system, a function completely separate from its meaning of “ugly.”

The term 丑 (chǒu) provides a fascinating window into Chinese cultural values, where aesthetics and ethics are often intertwined.

• Physical and Moral Ugliness: Unlike in English where “ugly” is primarily about appearance, 丑 carries a strong moral weight. A selfish act can be described as 丑陋 (chǒulòu), and a public scandal is a 丑闻 (chǒuwén). This reflects a cultural perspective where outer appearance and inner character are seen as connected. The saying 心灵美 (xīnlíng měi), meaning “beauty of the soul,” is the direct counterpart to this moral ugliness.
• Connection to “Face” (面子): The “shameful” aspect of 丑 is deeply connected to the concept of 面子 (miànzi), or “face.” To 出丑 (chūchǒu) means to make a fool of oneself in public, which directly results in 丢脸 (diūliǎn) (losing face). The famous proverb, 家丑不可外扬 (jiāchǒu bùkě wàiyáng)—“Family shame/ugliness should not be spread outside”—perfectly illustrates this. It's the Chinese equivalent of “don't air your dirty laundry in public,” and it underscores the importance of maintaining dignity and avoiding public disgrace for oneself and one's group.
• The Zodiac and Opera Role: In a completely different context, 丑 is the second Earthly Branch, corresponding to the Ox. The hours between 1-3 AM are known as 丑时 (chǒushí). Furthermore, in Chinese opera, the 丑 (chǒu) is the clown role, often characterized by a white patch on the nose. This role can be foolish or witty, but is not necessarily “ugly” in the pejorative sense. For a learner, it's vital to distinguish these neutral, traditional uses from the negative adjective.

丑 (chǒu) is a common word used in various modern contexts, from casual complaints to serious accusations.

• Describing Appearance: In everyday conversation, it's used just like “ugly” in English to describe objects, clothing, or art. For example, “这件衣服太丑了” (This piece of clothing is too ugly). However, calling a person 丑 to their face is extremely rude. The word 难看 (nánkàn) (hard to look at) is often a slightly softer, more common alternative for physical appearance.
• Expressing Disgrace and Scandal: This is a major use in news, social commentary, and daily life. Words like 丑闻 (chǒuwén - scandal), 丑事 (chǒushì - disgraceful matter), and 出丑 (chūchǒu - to make a fool of oneself) are very common.
• Social Media Slang - “Ugly-Cute”: A very popular modern term is 丑萌 (chǒu méng). It describes something (often a pet like a bulldog or a pug, or a cartoon character) that is technically ugly but in an endearing, cute way. This shows the flexibility of the word in contemporary internet culture.

• Example 1:
• 这件衣服的颜色太丑了。
• Pinyin: Zhè jiàn yīfu de yánsè tài chǒu le.
• English: The color of this dress is too ugly.
• Analysis: A straightforward use of 丑 as an adjective to describe the aesthetics of an object. This is its most basic meaning.
• Example 2:
• 他因为在会议上睡着而出丑了。
• Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi zài huìyì shàng shuìzháo ér chūchǒu le.
• English: He made a fool of himself because he fell asleep during the meeting.
• Analysis: 出丑 (chūchǒu) is a common verb-object phrase meaning “to make a public spectacle” or “embarrass oneself.” The “ugliness” here is about action and social standing, not appearance.
• Example 3:
• 这只哈巴狗丑萌丑萌的，我很喜欢。
• Pinyin: Zhè zhī hǎbāgǒu chǒu méng chǒu méng de, wǒ hěn xǐhuān.
• English: This pug is ugly-cute, I like it a lot.
• Analysis: This demonstrates the modern slang 丑萌 (chǒu méng). The reduplication “丑萌丑萌的” emphasizes the quality, a common pattern in Chinese adjectives.
• Example 4:
• 这位政客被卷入了一场财务丑闻。
• Pinyin: Zhè wèi zhèngkè bèi juǎnrù le yī chǎng cáiwù chǒuwén.
• English: This politician was embroiled in a financial scandal.
• Analysis: 丑闻 (chǒuwén) is a specific noun for “scandal.” The 丑 here clearly means “shameful” or “disgraceful,” not visually ugly.
• Example 5:
• 家丑不可外扬，我们自己解决这个问题吧。
• Pinyin: Jiāchǒu bùkě wàiyáng, wǒmen zìjǐ jiějué zhège wèntí ba.
• English: Don't air your dirty laundry in public; let's resolve this issue ourselves.
• Analysis: A classic proverb. 家丑 (jiāchǒu) means “family scandal” or “family shame.” This highlights the collective nature of “face” and disgrace in Chinese culture.
• Example 6:
• 他贪婪的样子真的很丑陋。
• Pinyin: Tā tānlán de yàngzi zhēn de hěn chǒulòu.
• English: His greedy appearance is really ugly/hideous.
• Analysis: 丑陋 (chǒulòu) is a two-character word that intensifies 丑. It's often used to describe something deeply, morally repulsive, even if it manifests physically.
• Example 7:
• 别担心说错，学外语的时候谁都会出丑。
• Pinyin: Bié dānxīn shuō cuò, xué wàiyǔ de shíhou shéi dōu huì chūchǒu.
• English: Don't worry about speaking incorrectly; everyone makes a fool of themselves when learning a foreign language.
• Analysis: A reassuring use of 出丑 (chūchǒu), showing it can describe minor, relatable embarrassments, not just major scandals.
• Example 8:
• 我生于1985年，属牛，所以我的地支是丑。
• Pinyin: Wǒ shēng yú 1985 nián, shǔ niú, suǒyǐ wǒ de dìzhī shì Chǒu.
• English: I was born in 1985, the year of the Ox, so my Earthly Branch is Chou.
• Analysis: This shows the zodiacal use of 丑. Notice it's capitalized in the Pinyin here to indicate a proper noun. It has no negative connotation in this context.
• Example 9:
• 他在京剧里扮演一个丑角。
• Pinyin: Tā zài jīngjù lǐ bànyǎn yī ge chǒujué.
• English: He plays a clown role in the Peking Opera.
• Analysis: 丑角 (chǒujué) is the specific term for the clown character in Chinese opera. This is another specialized, non-pejorative use of the character.
• Example 10:
• 他为了钱而出卖朋友，这种行为太丑恶了。
• Pinyin: Tā wèile qián ér chūmài péngyou, zhè zhǒng xíngwéi tài chǒu'è le.
• English: He sold out his friend for money; this kind of behavior is too vile/heinous.
• Analysis: 丑恶 (chǒu'è) combines “ugly” and “evil,” creating a very strong word for describing morally reprehensible actions. This is one of the strongest forms of “ugly.”

• 丑 (chǒu) vs. 难看 (nánkàn): This is a key distinction. 难看 literally means “hard to look at” and is the most common, neutral word for simple physical ugliness. 丑 can be used this way, but it often feels stronger or carries a hint of moral judgment. If you just think a shirt is ugly, 难看 is a safer, more common choice. If something is hideously or offensively ugly, 丑 is more appropriate.
• Be Careful Calling People 丑: Just as in English, directly calling a person 丑 is very insulting and should be avoided.
• Don't Confuse the Meanings: A common beginner mistake is to see 丑 in a zodiac context (like 丑牛, the Ox) and think it means “Ugly Ox.” Remember that the calendrical/zodiacal meaning is completely separate and carries no negative connotation. It's just a name.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • Incorrect: 这道题很难，很丑。 (Zhè dào tí hěn nán, hěn chǒu.)
  • Why it's wrong: You cannot use 丑 to describe a problem's difficulty. While English might informally say “an ugly math problem,” Chinese does not use 丑 this way. You would simply say a problem is 难 (nán) (difficult).

• 难看 (nánkàn) - The most common word for “ugly” or “unattractive,” literally “hard to look at.” Generally used for physical appearance and is often less harsh than 丑.
• 漂亮 (piàoliang) - Antonym: “Pretty,” “beautiful.” The most common word for good-looking people or things.
• 美丽 (měilì) - Antonym: “Beautiful,” often implies a deeper, more profound, or natural beauty than 漂亮.
• 丢脸 (diūliǎn) - Related Concept: “To lose face.” This is often the direct consequence of an action described as 丑.
• 出丑 (chūchǒu) - Specific Use: A verb phrase meaning “to make a fool of oneself” or “to be publicly embarrassed.”
• 丑闻 (chǒuwén) - Specific Use: A noun meaning “scandal,” a public and disgraceful event.
• 丑陋 (chǒulòu) - Synonym (Formal): “Ugly,” “hideous.” A stronger, more formal word than just 丑, often used to describe moral ugliness.
• 丑恶 (chǒu'è) - Synonym (Strong): “Vile,” “heinous.” Combines “ugly” with “evil” to describe profoundly immoral behavior.
• 丑萌 (chǒuméng) - Modern Slang: A popular compound word meaning “ugly-cute,” used for pets or items that are endearing despite (or because of) their ugliness.
• 地支 (dìzhī) - Related Concept: The “Earthly Branches,” the 12-term system used in the Chinese calendar. 丑 is the second branch, associated with the Ox.