shy; bashful
HSK level
害羞 (hàixiū) is an adjective meaning shy, bashful, or embarrassed — the feeling of self-conscious timidity, especially in front of strangers or when singled out.
It describes a passing state (她见到陌生人就害羞 'she gets shy around strangers') or a trait (他很害羞 'he's very shy'). It can also work as a verb ('to feel shy'). Two points for English speakers: first, 害羞 blends 'shy' and 'bashful/blushing' — it often implies the visible flush of embarrassment, not just social reticence.
Second, it is gentle and often endearing, applied warmly to children and young people; it is not the clinical 'social anxiety' (社交恐惧). Register is neutral and colloquial. Compare 不好意思 (an everyday 'I feel embarrassed / awkward,' also used to say 'excuse me / sorry') and 内向 (introverted, a stable personality trait rather than a momentary blush).
Character by character
Memory hook: 害 (be afflicted by) + 羞 (shyness) — struck by a wave of shyness.
别害羞，大胆说出来。
Bié hàixiū, dàdǎn shuō chūlái.
Don't be shy, speak up boldly.
spoken
小女孩害羞地躲在妈妈身后。
Xiǎo nǚhái hàixiū de duǒ zài māma shēnhòu.
The little girl shyly hid behind her mother.
neutral
他一被表扬就害羞得脸红了。
Tā yí bèi biǎoyáng jiù hàixiū de liǎnhóng le.
He blushed with shyness the moment he was praised.
neutral
第一次上台，我有点害羞。
Dì-yī cì shàngtái, wǒ yǒudiǎn hàixiū.
The first time on stage, I felt a little shy.
spoken
害羞 is written with 20 strokes (害: 10, 羞: 10). Tap replay to watch each character drawn again.
不好意思 is a lighter, everyday 'embarrassed / awkward,' and also serves as 'excuse me / sorry.' 害羞 is specifically shyness before others, often with blushing. You feel 害羞 meeting new people; you say 不好意思 when you bump into someone.
内向 means introverted — a stable preference for one's inner world. 害羞 is the momentary feeling of bashfulness. An introvert (内向) isn't necessarily shy (害羞), and vice versa.
羞愧 means ashamed or guilt-ridden over a wrongdoing — a moral, painful shame. 害羞 is harmless social shyness. Don't use 害羞 for guilt.
Acquire it by listening
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