忸

shame

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Readings

On'yomi

ジク
ジュウ

Kun'yomi

はじ.る

Meaning

忸 centers on the feeling of shame, a painful self-consciousness tied to one's actions or state.

Most common words using 忸

忸怩じくじ
bashful; shameful; ashamed
内心忸怩ないしんじくじ
ashamed deep down in one's heart; blushing with shame when one remembers something
忸怩たる思いじくじたるおもい
feelings of strong embarrassment (over one's own actions)

Explore all words using 忸 →

Study

Etymology

忸 combines the heart radical 忄 with 丑, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the heart component suggests an emotional state like shame.

Meaning mnemonic

The heart radical 忄 beside 丑 suggests a heart weighed down by an ugly, shameful feeling. Picture your heart sinking with shame.

Reading mnemonic

For ジク, imagine feeling shame because you accidentally said a rude 'joke' (ジク) in public. The joke -> ジク hook ties the sound to the heart's shame.