A1 Idiom 正式

顔に泥を塗る

kao ni doro o nuru

Bring shame/Disgrace

Phrase in 30 Seconds

This idiom means to disgrace oneself or others by acting in a way that ruins a reputation.

  • Means: To bring shame or dishonor upon someone's name or social standing.
  • Used in: Formal apologies, criticizing unprofessional behavior, or warning someone about their actions.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about actual mud; it is strictly about social reputation.
Muddy face + Reputation = Social Shame

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means to make someone feel very embarrassed or to ruin their reputation. We use it when someone does something bad that makes their family or company look unprofessional.
In Japanese, 'kao ni doro o nuru' means to smear mud on someone's face. It is a metaphor for bringing shame to a group or person. It is a serious expression used when someone's behavior causes others to lose respect for them.
This idiom is used to describe actions that damage the reputation of an individual or an organization. It implies that the person has acted in a way that is contrary to the expectations of their role, thereby 'staining' the collective honor of their group.
The idiom functions as a social warning. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of reputation in Japanese society. By using this, the speaker highlights that the subject's behavior has transcended personal error and has become a public embarrassment for those associated with them.
This expression is a quintessential example of the 'face' (menboku) culture in Japan. It functions as a linguistic tool to enforce social norms by framing individual misconduct as a collective injury. It is often employed in high-stakes environments where the maintenance of social harmony and institutional integrity is paramount.
The phrase encapsulates the socio-cultural paradigm of collective accountability. Through the metaphor of 'smearing mud,' it externalizes the internal concept of shame, transforming an abstract loss of prestige into a tangible, defiling act. It serves as a powerful rhetorical device to censure behavior that threatens the social cohesion of a group, reflecting the deep-seated cultural emphasis on maintaining public dignity.

意思

To cause embarrassment or dishonor to oneself or others.

🌍

文化背景

The concept of 'face' is central to social interaction. Maintaining harmony means avoiding public embarrassment. Similar concepts of 'face' exist in China and Korea, where public image is highly valued.

⚠️

Serious Tone

Do not use this lightly. It is a very strong accusation.

意思

To cause embarrassment or dishonor to oneself or others.

⚠️

Serious Tone

Do not use this lightly. It is a very strong accusation.

自我测试

Choose the correct verb to complete the idiom.

彼は家族の顔に泥を＿＿＿。

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： 塗った

The idiom is 'kao ni doro o nuru'.

🎉 得分： /1

视觉学习工具

常见问题

1 个问题

Yes, you can say 'I smeared mud on my own face' to express deep regret.

相关表达

🔄

顔を汚す

synonym

To dirty one's face

🔗

面目を失う

similar

To lose face

在哪里用

🏠

Family Argument

Parent: そんなことをしたら、親の顔に泥を塗ることになるよ。

Child: わかってるよ。

formal
💼

Business Meeting

Boss: 今回のミスは会社に泥を塗る行為だ。

Employee: 申し訳ございません。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a person standing proudly, then someone throws a bucket of mud at their face, ruining their clean suit.

Visual Association

A person in a suit walking into a meeting, then tripping and getting mud all over their face, looking embarrassed.

Story

Kenji was the star of his company. He promised to win the big contract. But he arrived late and unprepared. He didn't just lose the deal; he brought shame to his boss. Everyone said, 'Kenji, you have smeared mud on the company's face.'

Word Web

恥名誉評判汚す責任失礼

挑战

Write three sentences about things that might bring shame to a company.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Dejar en mal lugar

Japanese uses a physical metaphor of staining, while Spanish uses a spatial metaphor.

French moderate

Se couvrir de honte

The Japanese idiom is often used to shame others, while the French one is often reflexive.

German low

Sich den Ruf ruinieren

German is literal and direct; Japanese is metaphorical and visual.

Japanese high

顔に泥を塗る

N/A

Arabic high

يسود وجهه

Both use the face as a symbol, but one uses color (black) and the other uses substance (mud).

Easily Confused

顔に泥を塗る 对比 顔を立てる

Opposite meaning.

立てる means to build/stand up (save face), 塗る means to smear (lose face).

常见问题 (1)

Yes, you can say 'I smeared mud on my own face' to express deep regret.

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