Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Ashamed and resentful: A complex emotional state combining shame (hổ) with a sense of personal grievance, humiliation, or wounded pride (tủi). It often arises from feeling unfairly slighted, belittled, or left behind, leading to a mix of embarrassment and self-pity.
   • Mortified: Feeling deep shame and humiliation, often due to a perceived personal failure or social inferiority.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cậu ấy cảm thấy tủi hổ vì gia cảnh nghèo khó của mình. (He felt ashamed and resentful because of his poor family circumstances.)
  • Nghe lời chê bai, cô tủi hổ muốn khóc. (Hearing the criticism, she was mortified and wanted to cry.)
  • Tôi thấy tủi hổ khi không thể giúp đỡ gia đình. (I felt ashamed and resentful when I couldn't help my family.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "tủi hổ" is stronger and more poignant than simply "hổ thẹn" (ashamed). It implies the shame is internalized and mixed with a sorrowful sense of one's own unfortunate condition or powerlessness.

Variants and Related Words

• Tủi thân (adj): To feel sorry for oneself; to feel hurt and self-pity, often without the strong component of shame present in "tủi hổ".

  • Cô ấy tủi thân khi bị bỏ rơi. (She felt sorry for herself when she was left out.)

• Hổ thẹn (adj): To feel ashamed, embarrassed.

  • Cậu bé hổ thẹn vì hành động của mình. (The boy was ashamed of his actions.)

Synonyms

• Ashamed: Feeling shame or embarrassment.
• Mortified: Utterly humiliated and ashamed.
• Humiliated: Made to feel ashamed and foolish.

Related Idioms

• While "tủi hổ" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the sentiment is central to phrases like:
  • Tủi hổ, tủi thân: Expressing a compounded feeling of shame and self-pity.

    • Bị mắng giữa đám đông, anh ta tủi hổ, tủi thân. (Being scolded in public, he felt utterly ashamed and sorry for himself.)