Traditional: 醜
chǒu HSK 5

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

这个玩具很丑。
Zhège wánjù hěn chǒu.
This toy is very ugly.
京剧里的丑很有趣。
Jīngjù lǐ de chǒu hěn yǒuqù.
The clown in Beijing opera is very interesting.
他觉得自己的画很丑。
Tā juéde zìjǐ de huà hěn chǒu.
He thinks his painting is very ugly.
这个玩具很丑。
Zhège wánjù hěn chǒu.
This toy is very ugly.
他演丑角。
Tā yǎn chǒujué.
He plays the clown role.

💡 Memory Tip

Imagine the character 丑 looks like a sad face with a downturned mouth (the horizontal lines) and a furrowed brow (the top part), reflecting an 'ugly' expression. Alternatively, link it to 'chǒu' sounding like 'chow' - think of 'ugly chow' (a dog breed, though not actually ugly) to recall the meaning.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, across formal and informal contexts. It is often employed in personal descriptions, critiques of appearance, or to express disapproval of actions or situations (e.g., 丑闻 - scandal). However, it can be direct and potentially offensive when describing people, so it's often softened in conversation.

📖 Grammar Points

Used as a predicate adjective (e.g., 他很丑). Often appears in the structure '长得 + 丑' to describe someone's looks. Can be part of compound words (e.g., 丑闻 - scandal, where 丑 modifies 闻).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, directly calling someone 丑 is considered impolite and face-threatening. It's more common to use euphemisms or indirect criticism. The story of '丑小鸭' (The Ugly Duckling) is widely known, symbolizing transformation and hidden beauty. The character 丑 is also one of the 12 Earthly Branches, used in the zodiac (e.g., 丑牛 - Ox).

🔄 Similar Words

Similar to '难看' (nánkàn), which also means 'ugly' or 'unpleasant to look at,' but 丑 can carry a stronger, sometimes moral judgment (e.g., shameful). '丑陋' (chǒulòu) is a more formal synonym emphasizing ugliness, often used for abstract or moral defects.

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