At the A1 level, '心生愧疚' (xīn shēng kuì jiù) is quite advanced. You don't need to use it yet, but you can understand it as a very strong way to say 'I am sorry' (对不起). Imagine you did something wrong and your heart feels heavy. '心' (xīn) means heart, and '愧疚' (kuì jiù) means feeling bad or guilty. When you see this phrase, think of someone who is very, very sorry in their heart. For now, focus on simple words like '对不起' (sorry) or '错' (wrong). If you see '心' in a word, it usually relates to feelings. This phrase shows that the feeling of being sorry is coming from inside the person's heart.
At the A2 level, you are starting to learn more about feelings. '心生愧疚' is a formal way to express guilt. In basic Chinese, you might say '我觉得不好意思' (I feel embarrassed/bad). '心生愧疚' is a step up. It means 'guilt arises in the heart.' You might hear this in a story when a character breaks a promise. For example, '他没去生日会,心生愧疚' (He didn't go to the birthday party and felt guilty). Notice the word '生' (shēng)—it means 'to grow' or 'to be born.' So, the feeling of guilt is 'born' in the heart. It’s a good word to recognize in simple stories about friends and family.
At the B1 level, you can begin to use more descriptive emotional phrases. '心生愧疚' is perfect for describing sincere regret. It is more formal than '难过' (sad) and more specific than '对不起' (sorry). It describes the internal process of realizing you've done something wrong. You can use it with the word '对' (duì) to show who you feel guilty toward. For example: '我对妈妈心生愧疚' (I feel guilty toward my mother). This phrase is common in daily life when discussing relationships or responsibilities. It shows that you understand the moral weight of an action, which is an important part of intermediate Chinese communication.
At the B2 level, '心生愧疚' is a key vocabulary item for expressing nuanced emotions. It is a four-character phrase that functions like an idiom but is used flexibly in sentences. You should understand that it implies a spontaneous internal reaction—the guilt 'arises' (生) within. It is often used in literature and formal speech to show a character's conscience. Compared to '内疚' (nèi jiù), '心生愧疚' is more dynamic, focusing on the moment the feeling begins or the depth of its origin in the '心' (heart). You should be able to use it in writing tasks, such as letters of apology or essays about personal growth, to demonstrate a sophisticated grasp of Chinese emotional vocabulary.
At the C1 level, you should appreciate the literary and psychological depth of '心生愧疚.' The choice of '愧' (shame) and '疚' (long-term remorse/sickness) suggests a profound moral self-reflection. In advanced texts, this phrase often appears in discussions of ethics, social responsibility, or complex character development. You should be able to distinguish it from '自责' (active self-blame) or '负疚' (bearing guilt). It is frequently used in the '我不禁心生愧疚' (I couldn't help but feel guilt) structure to describe an involuntary emotional response to a moral realization. At this level, you should also be comfortable using it in professional settings to express high-level accountability.
At the C2 level, '心生愧疚' is part of a broad repertoire of expressions for the human condition. You can analyze its usage in classical-style modern prose and understand how it connects to Confucian concepts of 'shame' (耻) and 'self-examination' (省). You should be able to use it with perfect precision, perhaps contrasting it with more obscure terms like '耿耿于怀' (to brood over something) or '深自缄默' (to be deeply silent in remorse). At this level, you use the phrase not just to say 'I feel guilty,' but to paint a specific picture of an internal moral landscape where an individual confronts their own failings in the context of their relationships and society.

心生愧疚 30秒で

  • Formal phrase for feeling deep, sincere guilt arising from the heart.
  • Commonly used in literature and serious personal or professional apologies.
  • Focuses on the internal realization of a moral or social failing.
  • Usually structured with '对' (toward) to indicate the person or thing wronged.

The phrase 心生愧疚 (xīn shēng kuì jiù) is a poignant and evocative expression in the Chinese language used to describe the internal process of feeling guilt or remorse. To understand this phrase deeply, one must look at its constituent parts. 心 (xīn) represents the heart or mind, the seat of emotions in Chinese philosophy. 生 (shēng) is a verb meaning to give birth to, to arise, or to grow. 愧 (kuì) and 疚 (jiù) both refer to feelings of shame and regret, with 'jiu' specifically carrying a connotation of a long-lasting, internal ache or 'sickness' of the soul caused by one's actions. Together, the phrase literally translates to 'in the heart, there arises a sense of shame and remorse.' It is more than just a passing feeling; it implies a profound realization of a moral or social failing that weighs heavily on the individual's conscience.

Emotional Depth
This term is often used in literature and formal speech to denote a higher level of emotional maturity and self-reflection compared to the simple '对不起' (duì bù qǐ - I'm sorry).

因为忘记了好友的生日,他不禁对她心生愧疚

Translation: Because he forgot his best friend's birthday, he couldn't help but feel guilty toward her.

In Chinese social dynamics, where 'face' and interpersonal harmony are paramount, 心生愧疚 serves as a vital psychological bridge. It describes the internal state that precedes an apology or a corrective action. It is frequently employed in narratives to show a character's internal conflict—perhaps they have gained something at the expense of another, or they have failed to live up to their own moral standards. Unlike '惭愧' (cán kuì), which can be a more immediate reaction to being caught in a mistake, 心生愧疚 suggests a more contemplative, perhaps even lingering, sense of regret that originates from within the person rather than being forced by external pressure.

Literary Nuance
The use of '生' (to arise/be born) personifies the guilt as something that has its own life and growth within the person, making the description more vivid and relatable in storytelling.

每当想起那次失误,我依然会心生愧疚

Translation: Whenever I think of that mistake, I still feel a sense of guilt arising in my heart.

Culturally, this phrase aligns with the Confucian value of self-cultivation (修身). A person who is capable of '心生愧疚' is seen as someone with a functioning conscience (良心). In modern contexts, you might hear this in formal apologies, TV dramas during emotional climax scenes, or read it in novels describing a character's psychological state after a betrayal or a missed opportunity to help someone.

看到父母逐渐苍老的背影,子女往往会心生愧疚

Translation: Seeing their parents' aging backs, children often feel a sense of guilt (for not doing enough for them).
Grammatical Placement
It is typically used as a verb phrase. It can be preceded by '不禁' (cannot help but), '深感' (deeply feel), or follow a '对' (toward) structure to indicate the object of the guilt.

他对自己的谎言心生愧疚,整晚辗转反侧。

面对老师的信任,没及格的他心生愧疚

Using 心生愧疚 correctly requires an understanding of its syntactic flexibility. Although it functions as a verb phrase, it describes an internal state, which means it often appears in structures that emphasize the cause or the direction of the feeling. The most common pattern is [Subject] + 对 + [Someone/Something] + 心生愧疚. This construction clearly identifies who is feeling the guilt and what or who that guilt is directed toward. For example, '我对他心生愧疚' (I feel guilty toward him). The '生' in the middle acts as the active verb, showing the 'birth' of the emotion within the '心' (heart).

The 'Cause' Structure
Often, the sentence starts with a reason (a clause) followed by the emotional reaction. Example: '看到他为了帮我而受伤,我心生愧疚。' (Seeing him get hurt to help me, I felt guilty.)

小明因为弄坏了妹妹的玩具而心生愧疚

Xiao Ming felt guilty because he broke his younger sister's toy.

Another frequent usage involves adverbs of degree or manner. Since 心生愧疚 is an emotional process, adverbs like 不由得 (bù yóu de - cannot help but), 难免 (nán miǎn - inevitably), or 顿时 (dùn shí - suddenly) are perfect partners. They describe how the guilt manifests. '我不由得心生愧疚' emphasizes the spontaneous, uncontrollable nature of the feeling. In more formal writing, you might see 深感 (shēn gǎn - deeply feel) used before it, although '深感愧疚' is more common than '深感心生愧疚', as the latter is slightly redundant (you wouldn't 'deeply feel the birth of guilt' as often as you would just 'deeply feel guilt').

As a Resultative Clause
It can also be the result of a realization. '当真相大白时,他才心生愧疚。' (Only when the truth came out did he feel guilty.)

想起当年的鲁莽,老王不仅心生愧疚,还流下了眼泪。

In terms of register, this phrase sits comfortably in B2 and C1 levels. It is not something a toddler would say—they would use '我错了' (I was wrong). It requires the speaker to have the vocabulary to describe their internal landscape. In business or professional settings, using 心生愧疚 in an email or speech regarding a mistake shows a high degree of accountability and emotional intelligence. For instance, '对于此次延迟给贵司造成的损失,我方心生愧疚,并将全力补偿。' (We feel guilty for the losses caused to your company by this delay and will compensate fully.)

他那种不负责任的态度,让周围的人都为他感到脸红,他自己却毫无心生愧疚之意。

Negative Construction
To say someone does NOT feel guilty, you can say '毫无愧疚感' or '并没有心生愧疚'.

虽然他赢了比赛,但因为用了不正当手段,他内心依然心生愧疚

In real-world Chinese, 心生愧疚 is a staple of emotional storytelling. You will find it most prominently in three areas: contemporary literature, scripted media (movies and TV dramas), and high-register social interactions. In modern novels, authors use this phrase to delve into a character's interiority. It provides a more sophisticated way to describe a character's moral compass than simpler adjectives. For example, in a story about family estrangement, a character might return home after many years and '心生愧疚' upon seeing the state of their childhood home or the health of their parents.

TV Dramas and Cinema
In 'C-Dramas', particularly those focusing on family dynamics or historical romance, this phrase is often used during 'confession' scenes. A character might say, '我对你心生愧疚,所以一直不敢见你' (I felt guilty toward you, so I didn't dare to see you).

看到她流泪,他终于心生愧疚,放下了手中的武器。

Script excerpt: Seeing her cry, he finally felt guilty and put down his weapon.

In news reporting or documentaries, especially those covering social issues or human-interest stories, 心生愧疚 is used to describe the public's reaction or an individual's realization. For instance, a documentary about environmental destruction might describe how viewers '心生愧疚' about their own consumption habits after seeing the impact on wildlife. It is a word that bridges the gap between individual emotion and social responsibility.

Social Media and Blogs
On platforms like WeChat or Zhihu, in 'heart-to-heart' style posts (走心帖), users often use this phrase to express their feelings about not being able to spend enough time with family or failing to help a friend in need.

忙于工作的我,对家里的老人总是心生愧疚

In professional contexts, you might hear this in a high-level apology from a CEO or a public figure. It conveys a deeper level of regret than a standard corporate 'we apologize for the inconvenience.' It suggests that the person has personally internalized the error and feels a sense of moral failure. For example, '作为领导者,没能带大家走出困境,我心生愧疚。' (As a leader, failing to lead everyone out of this predicament, I feel deep remorse.)

在法庭上,面对受害者的家属,被告人终于心生愧疚,低下了头。

Parenting and Education
Teachers or parents might use it to describe a child's better nature: '虽然他犯了错,但看到他心生愧疚的样子,我就原谅他了。' (Although he made a mistake, seeing his remorseful look, I forgave him.)

每当夜深人静,想起那些被我伤害过的人,我便会心生愧疚

While 心生愧疚 is a powerful phrase, learners often stumble over its specific usage constraints and nuances. The most common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding or related terms like 惭愧 (cán kuì) or 内疚 (nèi jiù). While they all relate to guilt, 惭愧 often implies a sense of inferiority or being 'ashamed' of one's lack of ability or a minor social faux pas (like receiving a compliment you don't deserve). 心生愧疚, however, is almost always about a moral or relational failure. You wouldn't say you '心生愧疚' because someone praised your bad singing; you would say '惭愧'.

Mistake 1: Incorrect Object Marker
Learners often try to use '心生愧疚' as a direct transitive verb. They might say '我心生愧疚他' (Wrong). The correct structure must use '对' (toward): '我对他心生愧疚'.

Incorrect: 我心生愧疚我的老师。 Correct: 我对老师心生愧疚

Another common error is overusing it in casual, low-stakes situations. If you accidentally step on someone's toe on the bus, saying '我对此心生愧疚' sounds overly dramatic and strange. It would be like saying 'I am filled with profound remorse' for a minor bump. In such cases, a simple '对不起' or '抱歉' is much more natural. Save 心生愧疚 for situations involving broken promises, neglected responsibilities, or actions that caused genuine distress to others.

Mistake 2: Redundancy
Avoid saying '心里心生愧疚'. Since '心' is already the first character of the phrase, adding '心里' (in the heart) at the beginning is redundant. Just say '我心生愧疚' or '他内心生出了愧疚感'.

Incorrect: 他在心里心生愧疚。 Correct: 他不禁心生愧疚

Lastly, be careful with the word '生'. Some learners forget it and just say '心愧疚', which is not a standard phrase. The '生' is crucial because it describes the arising of the feeling. It's the difference between saying 'guilt' and 'to feel guilt starting to grow.' Without the '生', the rhythmic and grammatical balance of the four-character structure is lost.

面对朋友的慷慨,他却没能帮忙,这让他心生愧疚

Mistake 3: Confusing with '道歉' (dào qiàn)
'道歉' is the action of apologizing. '心生愧疚' is the internal feeling. You can '心生愧疚' without '道歉', and unfortunately, some people '道歉' without '心生愧疚'. Don't use them interchangeably.

他虽然口头道歉了,但并没有表现出任何心生愧疚的样子。

To master 心生愧疚, it is helpful to compare it with its synonyms and near-synonyms. Chinese has a rich vocabulary for 'shame' and 'guilt,' each with a slightly different flavor and register. Understanding these differences allows for more precise expression.

内疚 (nèi jiù)
This is the closest synonym. '内疚' is a noun/adjective meaning 'compunction' or 'guilty conscience.' While '心生愧疚' describes the feeling arising, '内疚' describes the state itself. You can say '我很内疚' (I am very guilty) but you would say '我不禁心生愧疚' (I couldn't help but feel guilt arise).
惭愧 (cán kuì)
'惭愧' is more about feeling 'ashamed' or 'embarrassed' because of one's own inadequacy. For example, if you win an award but feel you didn't work hard enough, you feel '惭愧.' '心生愧疚' is usually reserved for when you have wronged someone else.
自责 (zì zé)
Literally 'self-blame.' This is an active process of holding oneself accountable. '心生愧疚' is the emotion; '自责' is the action of the mind blaming itself. '他因为失误而深感自责' (He felt deep self-blame because of the error).

Comparison:
1. 看到他的努力,我很惭愧 (I feel ashamed of my own lack of effort).
2. 伤害了她,我心生愧疚 (I feel guilty for hurting her).

In more formal or literary contexts, you might encounter 负疚 (fù jiù), which means 'to bear a sense of guilt.' This is very high register. Another alternative is 抱疚 (bào jiù), meaning 'to hold/harbor regret.' These are less common in daily speech but frequent in classical-style modern prose. For a more casual way to express a similar feeling, people often use 过意不去 (guò yì bù qù). This literally means 'cannot get past it in one's mind.' It is used for minor social debts or favors. '让你等这么久,真过意不去' (I feel bad for making you wait so long).

后悔 (hòu huǐ)
'后悔' means 'regret.' You can regret a decision that only affected you (like buying a bad car), but '心生愧疚' almost always involves another person or a moral standard you've violated.

他并不后悔自己的决定,但对受牵连的朋友确实心生愧疚

He doesn't regret his decision, but he does feel guilty toward the friends who were implicated.

How Formal Is It?

豆知識

The character '愧' (shame) has the 'ghost' (鬼) component. This suggests that in ancient times, the feeling of shame was compared to having a ghost or an unsettling spirit residing in one's heart.

発音ガイド

UK /ʃɪn ʃʌŋ kweɪ dʒjuː/
US /ʃɪn ʃəŋ kweɪ dʒju/
Primary stress is on the third and fourth syllables (愧疚).
韻が合う語
心 (xīn) rhymes with 亲 (qīn), 金 (jīn). 生 (shēng) rhymes with 灯 (dēng), 层 (céng). 愧 (kuì) rhymes with 对 (duì), 贵 (guì). 疚 (jiù) rhymes with 旧 (jiù), 酒 (jiǔ - though different tone), 救 (jiù).
よくある間違い
  • Pronouncing '生' (shēng) as 'sheng' with a soft 's' instead of 'sh'.
  • Misplacing the tones: xīn (1), shēng (1), kuì (4), jiù (4).
  • Confusing 'jiu' (remorse) with 'jiu' (nine) or 'jiu' (old).
  • Failing to aspirate the 'k' in 'kuì'.
  • Pronouncing 'xin' like 'sin' instead of 'sheen'.

難易度

読解 4/5

Requires knowledge of complex characters and literary structures.

ライティング 4/5

The characters '愧' and '疚' are difficult to write from memory.

スピーキング 3/5

Easy to say if you know the tones, but requires the right context.

リスニング 3/5

Common in dramas and formal speeches, usually clear.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

对不起 难过 错误

次に学ぶ

内疚 惭愧 耿耿于怀 弥补 负疚

上級

问心无愧 反省 修身 谴责

知っておくべき文法

Use of '对' (toward) as a preposition for the object of emotion.

我对你心生愧疚。

Use of '不禁' (cannot help but) to show involuntary emotion.

我不禁心生愧疚。

Using '让/令' (to make/cause) for causative emotional states.

这件事让他心生愧疚。

The '由于...而...' structure for showing cause and effect.

由于迟到而心生愧疚。

Placement of time adverbs like '顿时' or '始终'.

他始终心生愧疚。

レベル別の例文

1

我没去,我心生愧疚。

I didn't go, I feel guilty.

Simple Subject + Phrase structure.

2

他对朋友心生愧疚。

He feels guilty toward his friend.

Use of '对' (toward) to indicate the object.

3

她心生愧疚,哭了。

She felt guilty and cried.

Sequential actions: feeling then crying.

4

因为迟到,他心生愧疚。

Because of being late, he felt guilty.

Cause (因为) followed by the feeling.

5

我不禁心生愧疚。

I couldn't help but feel guilty.

'不禁' means 'cannot help but'.

6

看到妈妈累了,我心生愧疚。

Seeing Mom is tired, I feel guilty.

Observation leading to emotion.

7

他做错事,心生愧疚。

He did something wrong and feels guilty.

Action + Resulting feeling.

8

老师,我心生愧疚。

Teacher, I feel guilty.

Direct address followed by the phrase.

1

因为没帮上忙,他心生愧疚。

Because he couldn't help, he felt guilty.

Reason phrase + Subject + Feeling.

2

看到他难过,我不禁心生愧疚。

Seeing him sad, I couldn't help but feel guilty.

'不禁' adds an involuntary nuance.

3

小明对弄坏玩具心生愧疚。

Xiao Ming felt guilty about breaking the toy.

'对' can also point to an action/event.

4

他心生愧疚,决定去道歉。

He felt guilty and decided to go apologize.

Feeling leads to a decision.

5

我不应该骗你,我心生愧疚。

I shouldn't have lied to you, I feel guilty.

Statement of regret + the phrase.

6

他心里突然心生愧疚。

He suddenly felt a sense of guilt in his heart.

'突然' adds a temporal element.

7

没能参加婚礼,她心生愧疚。

Not being able to attend the wedding, she felt guilty.

Negative action clause as the cause.

8

听了你的话,我心生愧疚。

After hearing what you said, I feel guilty.

Reaction to external input.

1

想起以前对他的态度,我不禁心生愧疚。

Thinking about my past attitude toward him, I can't help but feel guilty.

Reflective structure using '想起'.

2

他因为工作太忙没陪孩子而心生愧疚。

He felt guilty because he was too busy with work to spend time with his child.

Complex reason clause.

3

面对大家的信任,他却失败了,这让他心生愧疚。

Facing everyone's trust, he failed, which made him feel guilty.

The whole situation acts as the subject for '这让他...'.

4

她对他说的谎言感到心生愧疚。

She felt guilty about the lie she told him.

Using '感到' before the phrase is common.

5

看到父母为了供我上学而辛苦工作,我心生愧疚。

Seeing my parents working hard to support my schooling, I feel guilty.

Filial guilt is a common theme.

6

他心生愧疚,于是写了一封道歉信。

He felt guilty, so he wrote an apology letter.

'于是' (so/consequently) connects the feeling to an action.

7

我不禁为自己的自私而心生愧疚。

I couldn't help but feel guilty for my own selfishness.

'为...而' structure for the cause.

8

他虽然没说,但眼神中流露出心生愧疚的神情。

Although he didn't say it, his eyes revealed a look of guilt.

Describing the 'look' (神情) of guilt.

1

每当提及那段往事,他总会心生愧疚,无法释怀。

Whenever that past event is mentioned, he always feels guilty and cannot let it go.

Use of '无法释怀' (cannot let go) to show depth.

2

由于我的疏忽给公司带来了损失,我对此深感心生愧疚。

Because my negligence caused losses to the company, I feel deeply guilty about it.

'深感' (deeply feel) adds formal weight.

3

他在日记中写道,对妻子的多年付出,他心生愧疚。

He wrote in his diary that he felt guilty for his wife's years of sacrifice.

Indirect speech/writing context.

4

那种由于误解而伤害朋友的行为,常令他心生愧疚。

The act of hurting a friend due to a misunderstanding often makes him feel guilty.

'令' (to cause) structure.

5

面对灾区人民,他为自己无力提供更多帮助而心生愧疚。

Facing the people in the disaster area, he felt guilty for his inability to provide more help.

Complex '为...而' structure.

6

尽管他已经尽力了,但没能救活那只流浪狗,他依然心生愧疚。

Even though he tried his best, he couldn't save the stray dog, and he still feels guilty.

Use of '尽管' (although) to show persistent guilt.

7

他在金钱面前迷失了自我,事后回想起来,不禁心生愧疚。

He lost himself in the face of money; looking back afterward, he couldn't help but feel guilty.

'事后回想' (looking back afterward) context.

8

对于没能履行诺言,他内心深处始终心生愧疚。

Regarding his failure to keep his promise, he always felt guilt deep in his heart.

'始终' (always/from beginning to end) shows duration.

1

这种深层的文化隔阂,常使身处异乡的他对父母心生愧疚。

This deep cultural divide often makes him, living in a foreign land, feel guilty toward his parents.

Abstract subject causing the emotion.

2

在巨大的利益诱惑面前,他选择了背弃原则,这让他余生都心生愧疚。

In the face of massive profit temptation, he chose to abandon his principles, which made him feel guilty for the rest of his life.

'余生' (rest of one's life) emphasizes long-term impact.

3

他那番尖酸刻薄的话语脱口而出后,看着对方受伤的眼神,他顿时心生愧疚。

After those sarcastic words escaped his mouth, seeing the hurt in the other person's eyes, he immediately felt guilty.

Detailed situational description leading to '顿时' (suddenly).

4

虽然法律没有制裁他,但良心的谴责让他整夜心生愧疚,难以入眠。

Although the law did not punish him, the condemnation of his conscience made him feel guilty all night, making it hard to sleep.

Contrast between external law and internal conscience.

5

他意识到自己的成功是建立在他人的痛苦之上的,这令他心生愧疚,无法享受胜利。

He realized his success was built on the pain of others, which made him feel guilty and unable to enjoy the victory.

Complex psychological realization.

6

作为一名医生,面对无法挽救的生命,他常会心生愧疚,反思医学的局限。

As a doctor, facing lives that cannot be saved, he often feels guilty and reflects on the limitations of medicine.

Professional identity and existential guilt.

7

他在名利场中摸爬滚打多年,回首往事时,对曾经被他忽略的家庭心生愧疚。

After struggling in the field of fame and wealth for years, looking back, he feels guilty toward the family he once ignored.

Use of '名利场' (field of fame and wealth) and '摸爬滚打' (to struggle/work hard).

8

面对那些因他的决策而失业的员工,他心生愧疚,彻夜难安。

Facing the employees who lost their jobs because of his decision, he felt guilty and was restless all night.

Guilt resulting from leadership decisions.

1

在历史的宏大叙事中,个人的抉择往往显得渺小,但他仍为那次背叛心生愧疚,终老一生。

In the grand narrative of history, individual choices often seem small, yet he still felt guilty for that betrayal until the end of his days.

Juxtaposition of historical scale and personal conscience.

2

这种源于道德自觉的心生愧疚,正是人类文明得以延续的内在动力之一。

This sense of guilt arising from moral self-awareness is precisely one of the internal drivers that allows human civilization to continue.

Philosophical and abstract usage.

3

他试图用酒精来麻痹那种心生愧疚的感觉,然而清醒后的痛苦却愈发剧烈。

He tried to use alcohol to numb that feeling of guilt, yet the pain after sobering up became even more intense.

Describing the attempt to suppress the emotion.

4

当他终于站在那块墓碑前,压抑了数十年的心生愧疚如潮水般涌上心头。

When he finally stood before that tombstone, the guilt that had been suppressed for decades surged into his heart like a tide.

Simile usage: '如潮水般' (like a tide).

5

他在文学创作中,不断解剖自己那深藏不露的心生愧疚,以求得灵魂的救赎。

In his literary creations, he constantly dissects his own hidden guilt in search of soul redemption.

Metaphorical use of '解剖' (dissect).

6

这种对自然的掠夺式开发,令每一个有识之士都心生愧疚,深感对子孙后代负有罪责。

This predatory exploitation of nature makes every person of insight feel guilty and deeply responsible for the crimes against future generations.

Collective/Social guilt.

7

他那种若有若无的心生愧疚,掩藏在玩世不恭的外表之下,鲜有人能察觉。

His faint, flickering sense of guilt was hidden beneath a cynical exterior, detectable by few.

Describing the subtlety of the emotion: '若有若无' (faint/vague).

8

他在忏悔录中详尽地描述了自己如何从最初的贪婪演变为后来的心生愧疚。

In his confessions, he described in detail how his initial greed evolved into later remorse.

Narrative arc of emotion.

よく使う組み合わせ

不禁心生愧疚
顿时心生愧疚
深感心生愧疚
难免心生愧疚
对某人心生愧疚
由于...而心生愧疚
毫无心生愧疚之意
令人心生愧疚
难掩心生愧疚
终生心生愧疚

よく使うフレーズ

心生愧疚感

— To have a sense of guilt arise. Adds '感' (sense/feeling) to make it a noun phrase.

他内心产生了一种强烈的心生愧疚感。

为此心生愧疚

— To feel guilty because of this. Used to refer back to a specific event.

我没能帮到他,为此心生愧疚。

对父母心生愧疚

— To feel guilty toward one's parents. A very common cultural theme.

长期在外工作,我对父母心生愧疚。

对过去心生愧疚

— To feel guilty about the past. Often used in personal reflections.

他对自己荒废的青春心生愧疚。

对错误心生愧疚

— To feel guilty about a mistake. Standard usage for accountability.

他对自己在会议上的失态心生愧疚。

对谎言心生愧疚

— To feel guilty about a lie. Common in interpersonal drama.

她对那个善意的谎言心生愧疚。

对背叛心生愧疚

— To feel guilty about a betrayal. High emotional weight.

背叛了朋友后,他一直心生愧疚。

对忽略心生愧疚

— To feel guilty about neglecting someone. Common in family contexts.

他对忽略了妻子的感受心生愧疚。

对失败心生愧疚

— To feel guilty about a failure. Often used when others were affected.

教练对比赛的失败心生愧疚。

对承诺心生愧疚

— To feel guilty about a promise (broken). Focuses on responsibility.

他对没能实现的承诺心生愧疚。

よく混同される語

心生愧疚 vs 惭愧

惭愧 is more about personal inadequacy or shame, while 心生愧疚 is about moral guilt toward others.

心生愧疚 vs 遗憾

遗憾 means 'regret' about a situation or missed opportunity, which may not involve guilt or a mistake.

心生愧疚 vs 道歉

道歉 is the act of saying sorry, while 心生愧疚 is the internal feeling of remorse.

慣用句と表現

"愧不敢当"

— I am unworthy of such honor/praise. Used when receiving a compliment.

您太客气了,我愧不敢当。

Formal
"羞愧难当"

— To be overwhelmed by shame. Very strong feeling of embarrassment.

想到那件丑事,他羞愧难当。

Literary
"无地自容"

— So ashamed that one wants to sink into the ground. Extreme embarrassment.

他的话让我感到无地自容。

Common Idiom
"耿耿于怀"

— To take something to heart; to brood over something. Can include guilt.

他对当年的错失一直耿耿于怀。

Common Idiom
"问心无愧"

— To have a clear conscience. The opposite of feeling guilty.

只要尽力了,就问心无愧。

Common Idiom
"疚由自取"

— One's own actions led to this regret/guilt. Self-inflicted remorse.

他落到这个地步,真是疚由自取。

Literary
"愧疚万分"

— Extremely guilty. 'Wan fen' emphasizes the degree.

听到这个消息,我愧疚万分。

Formal
"抱恨终天"

— To harbor a deep regret for the rest of one's life.

没能见到母亲最后一面,他抱恨终天。

Literary
"自惭形秽"

— To feel unworthy or inferior when compared to others.

在他面前,我不禁自惭形秽。

Common Idiom
"汗颜无地"

— Extremely ashamed (sweating from shame).

做出这样的事,我真是汗颜无地。

Literary

間違えやすい

心生愧疚 vs 内疚

They both mean guilt.

内疚 is a state (noun/adj); 心生愧疚 is a process (verb phrase describing the feeling arising).

他很内疚 vs 他不禁心生愧疚。

心生愧疚 vs 后悔

Both involve looking back negatively.

后悔 is about wishing a decision was different; 心生愧疚 is about the moral weight of hurting someone.

我后悔买了这件衣服 (No guilt involved).

心生愧疚 vs 难过

Both are negative emotions.

难过 is general sadness; 心生愧疚 is specific to guilt over an action.

考试没考好我很难过 vs 骗了妈妈我心生愧疚。

心生愧疚 vs 羞耻

Both involve shame.

羞耻 is a deeper, often social sense of dishonor; 心生愧疚 is more about personal conscience.

感到羞耻 (feeling dishonored) vs 心生愧疚 (feeling remorseful).

心生愧疚 vs 自责

Both involve blaming oneself.

自责 is the active thought process; 心生愧疚 is the spontaneous feeling.

他在不断的自责中感到心生愧疚。

文型パターン

A1

我心生愧疚。

我不小心,我心生愧疚。

A2

我对[人]心生愧疚。

我对妹妹心生愧疚。

B1

因为[原因],[人]心生愧疚。

因为没帮忙,他心生愧疚。

B2

[人]不禁对[人/事]心生愧疚。

他不禁对自己的谎言心生愧疚。

C1

面对[情况],[人]深感心生愧疚。

面对灾区,他深感心生愧疚。

C2

[抽象概念]令[人]心生愧疚。

这种浪费令有识之士心生愧疚。

B2

[人]带着心生愧疚的心情[做某事]。

他带着心生愧疚的心情写了信。

C1

[人]对[往事]始终心生愧疚。

他对当年的事始终心生愧疚。

語族

名詞

愧疚感 (Sense of guilt)
内疚 (Inner guilt)
愧色 (Look of shame)

動詞

愧疚 (To feel guilty)
惭愧 (To be ashamed)
自责 (To blame oneself)
道歉 (To apologize)

形容詞

愧疚的 (Guilty)
惭愧的 (Ashamed)
负疚的 (Remorseful)

関連

良心 (Conscience)
道德 (Morality)
责任 (Responsibility)
悔恨 (Remorse/Regret)
弥补 (To make up for)

使い方

frequency

Common in written Chinese, moderate in spoken Chinese (serious contexts).

よくある間違い
  • Using it as a transitive verb: '我心生愧疚他'。 我对他心生愧疚。

    You must use the preposition '对' to indicate the object of the guilt.

  • Using it for trivial things: '我弄丢了你的笔,我心生愧疚'。 我弄丢了你的笔,真不好意思。

    For minor things, use '不好意思' or '抱歉'. '心生愧疚' is too heavy.

  • Redundant '心里': '他心里心生愧疚'。 他心生愧疚。

    The '心' in the phrase already means 'heart' or 'mind'.

  • Confusing with '惭愧': '我赢了比赛,但我很心生愧疚'。 我赢了比赛,但我很惭愧 (because I didn't work hard).

    Use '惭愧' for personal inadequacy; '心生愧疚' for moral wrongdoing.

  • Wrong tones: 'xin1 sheng1 kui1 jiu1'。 xīn shēng kuì jiù (1-1-4-4).

    The last two characters must be in the 4th (falling) tone.

ヒント

Structure with '对'

Always remember to use '对' before the person you feel guilty toward. '我对他心生愧疚' is the standard way to express this.

Formal vs. Informal

Save this phrase for serious writing or deeply sincere personal conversations. It's too heavy for casual, everyday inconveniences.

Use in Narratives

In stories, use it to show a character's internal conflict. It's a great way to 'show, not tell' their moral character.

Avoid Redundancy

Don't say '在心里心生愧疚' because '心' is already in the phrase. Just say '他心生愧疚'.

Learn the Components

Learning '愧' and '疚' separately will help you understand other words like '惭愧' and '负疚'.

Tone Accuracy

The 4-4 tone pattern at the end (kuì jiù) is important for sounding sincere. Practice the falling tones clearly.

Cultural Depth

Understand that in Chinese culture, feeling guilt often relates to failing in your role or duty to others.

Choose the right word

If you are ashamed of your skills, use '惭愧'. If you feel bad about a moral mistake, use '心生愧疚'.

Listen for '不禁'

The adverb '不禁' (cannot help but) is very frequently paired with this phrase in literature and dramas.

Daily Reflection

Try to think of one thing each day that might make you '心生愧疚' and form a sentence about it.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Imagine your HEART (心) is a garden where a new plant starts to GROW (生). But this plant is a SHAME-FLOWER (愧疚). It grows because you forgot a friend's birthday.

視覚的連想

Visualize a person holding their hand over their heart with a sad, downcast face, while a small 'seed' of guilt glows in their chest.

Word Web

Heart (心) Born/Arise (生) Ashamed (愧) Remorse (疚) Guilt Conscience Apology Regret

チャレンジ

Try to write a diary entry in Chinese describing a time you felt '心生愧疚' because you were late or forgot something important.

語源

The phrase is a combination of four distinct characters, each with ancient roots. '心' (heart) is a pictograph of a physical heart, representing the center of thought and emotion. '生' (to be born) depicts a plant growing out of the earth. '愧' (shame) contains the heart radical (忄) and the character for ghost (鬼), originally implying a feeling of being 'haunted' by one's actions. '疚' (remorse) contains the sickness radical (疒) and 'long time' (久), suggesting a lingering internal pain.

元の意味: A feeling of sickness and shame arising in the heart.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese)

文化的な背景

This is a serious emotional term. Using it for very trivial things (like dropping a pen) can sound sarcastic or overly dramatic.

English speakers might just say 'I feel bad,' but '心生愧疚' is more like 'I am struck by a sense of remorse.' It carries more weight and formality.

Found in modern literary works by authors like Lu Xun and Ba Jin to describe psychological depth. Commonly used in 'C-Dramas' during emotional climaxes. Often used in public apologies by figures who have committed social errors.

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

Apologizing for a forgotten event.

  • 没能参加...
  • 忘记了你的...
  • 我对此...
  • 请原谅我

Reflecting on family responsibilities.

  • 对父母的照顾不够
  • 长期不在家
  • 没能尽孝
  • 心中不安

Professional errors.

  • 由于我的疏忽
  • 造成了损失
  • 深感抱歉
  • 愿意承担责任

Betrayal or lying to a friend.

  • 我不该骗你
  • 背叛了你的信任
  • 无法原谅自己
  • 心如刀割

Social observation/empathy.

  • 看到弱势群体
  • 自己却无能为力
  • 这种感觉令人...
  • 深感社会责任

会話のきっかけ

"其实,关于上次那件事,我一直心生愧疚。"

"你有没有过那种因为一句话而对别人心生愧疚的时候?"

"当我看到他那么努力,而我却在偷懒时,我心生愧疚。"

"对于没能帮你搬家,我真的心生愧疚,下次请你吃饭补偿。"

"你觉得心生愧疚是一种好的动力,还是仅仅是负担?"

日記のテーマ

写一次你对他人心生愧疚的经历,以及你后来是如何弥补的。

为什么我们有时会对那些对我们最好的人心生愧疚?

描述一个你曾经撒过的谎,以及这个谎言如何让你心生愧疚。

在你的文化中,人们通常如何表达他们的心生愧疚?

如果一个人做错了事却从不心生愧疚,你觉得他是一个什么样的人?

よくある質問

10 問

Not exactly. While it expresses a similar sentiment, it describes the internal feeling of guilt rather than the act of apologizing. You would say 'I feel guilty' (我心生愧疚) before or instead of saying 'I'm sorry' (对不起).

It's usually too formal for very small things. If you use it for being 5 minutes late, it might sound like you are being overly dramatic or sarcastic. Use it for things that truly weigh on your conscience.

It is a four-character phrase that functions like an idiom, but it's not a classical 'chengyu' with a specific historical story. It's a common literary construction in modern Chinese.

愧 (kuì) has the heart radical '忄' and '鬼'. 疚 (jiù) has the sickness radical '疒' and '久'. They are both falling tones (4th tone).

'内疚' is a noun or adjective describing the state of guilt. '心生愧疚' is a verb phrase that emphasizes the feeling starting or arising ('生') in the heart ('心').

Yes, adding '了' indicates that the feeling has now arisen. It is very natural.

Yes, in formal apologies to clients or partners, it shows a high level of sincerity and personal accountability.

The most common opposite is '问心无愧' (wèn xīn wú kuì), which means to have a clear conscience.

Yes, for example: '看到他心生愧疚的样子,我就原谅他了' (Seeing his remorseful look, I forgave him).

'生' means 'to arise' or 'to be born.' It highlights that the emotion is a natural, spontaneous reaction coming from within the person.

自分をテスト 200 問

writing

Write 'I feel guilty' in simple Chinese using the phrase.

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writing

Write 'I feel guilty toward my friend' in Chinese.

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writing

Write a sentence explaining that you feel guilty because you were late.

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writing

Write a formal apology sentence for a work mistake using the phrase.

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writing

Describe a character's internal state after they broke a promise.

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writing

Translate: 'Heart arises guilt.'

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writing

Write 'He felt guilty' in Chinese.

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writing

Use '不禁' and '心生愧疚' in a sentence.

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writing

Translate: 'He felt guilty about the lie he told.'

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writing

Write a sentence about feeling guilty toward one's parents for not visiting.

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writing

Write the Pinyin for '心生愧疚'.

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writing

Write: 'I am sorry, I feel guilty.'

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writing

Write: 'Seeing the teacher, I felt guilty.'

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writing

Use '由于...而...' with the phrase.

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writing

Translate: 'His eyes revealed a look of deep remorse.'

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writing

Copy the phrase '心生愧疚' three times.

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writing

Write: 'She felt guilty because she was late.'

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writing

Write: 'I feel guilty about forgetting your birthday.'

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writing

Translate: 'Facing the trust of the team, he felt remorseful for his failure.'

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writing

Write a sentence about collective guilt regarding the environment.

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speaking

Say 'I feel guilty' in Chinese.

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say 'I feel guilty toward you' in Chinese.

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speaking

Explain in Chinese why you might feel guilty if you were late to a meeting.

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speaking

Describe a scenario from a movie where a character might say '心生愧疚'.

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speaking

Discuss the difference between '惭愧' and '心生愧疚'.

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speaking

Pronounce the phrase '心生愧疚' clearly.

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speaking

Say: 'He felt guilty because he broke the toy.'

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speaking

Say: 'I couldn't help but feel guilty.'

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speaking

Use the phrase in a formal apology for a work delay.

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speaking

Explain the importance of '心生愧疚' in building trust.

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speaking

Say 'Mother' and 'Guilty' together.

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speaking

Say: 'I feel guilty toward my teacher.'

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speaking

Say: 'Thinking of the past, I feel guilty.'

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speaking

Say: 'He has no sense of guilt at all.'

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speaking

Discuss a time you felt guilty for not helping someone.

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speaking

Is '心' flat tone or falling tone? Say it.

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speaking

Say: 'I feel guilty, sorry.'

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speaking

Say: 'He felt guilty after lying.'

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speaking

Say: 'Facing the facts, he felt guilty.'

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speaking

Summarize the cultural meaning of the phrase.

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listening

Listen to the sentence: '我对他心生愧疚。' Who is the person feeling guilty?

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listening

Listen to the sentence: '我不禁心生愧疚。' What is the adverb used?

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listening

Listen to the sentence: '由于我的疏忽,我心生愧疚。' What caused the guilt?

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listening

Listen to the sentence: '他毫无心生愧疚之意。' Does the person feel guilty?

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listening

Listen and write the phrase: '心生愧疚'。

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listening

Listen: '想起以前,他心生愧疚。' When does he feel guilty?

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listening

Listen: '我对父母心生愧疚。' Who is the guilt directed toward?

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listening

Listen: '这种深深的心生愧疚感。' What word describes the depth of the feeling?

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listening

Listen: '对不起,我心生愧疚。' Is the tone happy or sad?

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listening

Listen: '他顿时心生愧疚。' How fast did the feeling arise?

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listening

Listen: '他为没帮忙而心生愧疚。' Why does he feel guilty?

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listening

Listen: '他难掩心生愧疚的神情。' Can he hide his guilt?

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listening

Listen: '我心生愧疚。' Which character means heart?

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listening

Listen: '我心生愧疚。' Which character means arise?

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listening

Listen: '他心生愧疚。' Which character means remorse?

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