sense of honor; integrity; moral sense
A somewhat formal or literary term for a person's inner sense of honor and shame; often used in contexts of public integrity or personal probity.
Politicians are expected to have a sense of honor.
He is a person who values integrity.
Compound of 廉 (pure, honest) and 恥 (shame). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys a sense of moral integrity rooted in an awareness of shame.