chūchǒu: 出丑 - To Make a Fool of Oneself, To Be Disgraced

Keywords: 出丑, chuchou, make a fool of oneself in Chinese, embarrass oneself Chinese, lose face China, Chinese for embarrassment, how to say disgrace in Chinese, chou meaning, chu chou, what does chuchou mean, HSK 5 vocabulary.

Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 出丑 (chūchǒu), which means to make a fool of oneself, be publicly disgraced, or lose face. This guide goes beyond a simple translation, exploring how chūchǒu is deeply connected to the cultural concept of “face” (面子 miànzi) in China. Understand its usage in daily conversation, see practical examples, and learn how to avoid common mistakes when talking about embarrassment in Mandarin.

Pinyin (with tone marks): chūchǒu

Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase (Separable Verb)

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: To make a fool of oneself or suffer public disgrace.

In a Nutshell: 出丑 (chūchǒu) is not just about feeling awkward; it's about a public act that makes you look foolish, incompetent, or undignified in the eyes of others. It implies a loss of social standing and reputation. Think of tripping on stage during a presentation, singing terribly at karaoke, or making a huge error in a business meeting—these are classic moments of 出丑.

出 (chū): To go out, to emerge, to appear. Imagine something coming out from behind a curtain for all to see.

丑 (chǒu): Ugly, shameful, disgraceful. While its primary meaning is “ugly,” in this context it refers to shame and disgrace.

The characters combine to literally mean “to bring out the shameful/ugly.” This paints a vivid picture of exposing one's own embarrassing mistake or lack of skill to the public, causing disgrace.

出丑 (chūchǒu) is inextricably linked to the core Chinese cultural concept of 面子 (miànzi), or “face”—a combination of one's social standing, reputation, and dignity. To 出丑 is a primary way one can 丢脸 (diūliǎn), or “lose face.”

In a collectivist culture like China's, maintaining social harmony and a good public image is highly valued. An act of 出丑 is disruptive because it not only embarrasses the individual but can also reflect poorly on their family, company, or group. It's a public failure to meet social or professional expectations.

Comparison with Western Culture: In the West, “making a fool of oneself” is often a personal and temporary feeling of embarrassment. We might laugh it off and move on. While this can also happen in China, a significant 出丑 event can have more lasting damage to one's reputation. For example, if a Western manager misspeaks in a meeting, it might be seen as a simple gaffe. If a Chinese manager does the same, it could be perceived as a major 出丑 that undermines their authority and competence in a more serious way. The public nature and the loss of respect are the key components that make 出丑 a more potent concept than simple embarrassment.

出丑 is a common term used in both formal and informal situations to describe any public blunder.

False Friend with “Ugly”: Do not mistake 出丑 to mean “to turn ugly” or “to point out someone is ugly.” The character 丑 (chǒu) here means “shameful/disgraceful,” not physical unattractiveness.

面子 (miànzi) - “Face”; the concept of dignity, prestige, and social standing that is lost when one 出丑.

丢脸 (diūliǎn) - “To lose face.” A direct synonym for 丢人 and the primary consequence of 出丑.

丢人 (diūrén) - “To lose face; to be disgraced.” Very similar to 丢脸.

尴尬 (gāngà) - Awkward; embarrassed. A less severe feeling of social discomfort than the disgrace of 出丑.

献丑 (xiànchǒu) - Lit. “to present my ugliness.” A self-deprecating, polite phrase used before you perform a skill (e.g., sing, play an instrument). It's a way of saying “I'll give it a try, please excuse my lack of skill,” thereby managing expectations to prevent 出丑.

洋相 (yángxiàng) - A foolish act or ridiculous appearance. The phrase `出洋相 (chū yángxiàng)` is a very close synonym for 出丑.

难看 (nánkàn) - Lit. “hard to look at.” Can mean “ugly,” but also “shameful” or “embarrassing” when describing a situation. (e.g., `场面很难看` - The scene was very embarrassing).