# 恬不知耻

tián bù zhī chǐ

Show no shame about wrongdoing

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Remain unconcerned and know no shame

**Traditional Chinese:** 恬不知恥

**Register:** Critical · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Strongly condemn brazenly shameless conduct.

An insulting moral accusation.

## Understanding the expression

The person appears calm and unconcerned despite conduct that the speaker regards as clearly shameful. The expression condemns that lack of acknowledgment, often after dishonesty, exploitation, or blatant hypocrisy. Its force is not simply that someone refuses to feel embarrassed. A person can reject unfair shaming without doing wrong. The phrase requires a real ethical failure, and even then it is a severe accusation rather than neutral feedback.

## Examples

他抄袭后还领奖，恬不知耻。

### Traditional Chinese

他抄襲後還領獎，恬不知恥。

tā chāo xí hòu hái lǐng jiǎng ， tián bù zhī chǐ 。

He shamelessly accepted an award after plagiarizing.

骗子恬不知耻地再次索款。

### Traditional Chinese

騙子恬不知恥地再次索款。

piàn zi tián bù zhī chǐ dì zài cì suǒ kuǎn 。

The swindler shamelessly demanded money again.

她批评他恬不知耻地推卸责任。

### Traditional Chinese

她批評他恬不知恥地推卸責任。

tā pī píng tā tián bù zhī chǐ dì tuī xiè zé rèn 。

She criticized his shameless refusal to accept responsibility.

损害别人后还炫耀，真是恬不知耻。

### Traditional Chinese

損害別人後還炫耀，真是恬不知恥。

sǔn hài bié rén hòu hái xuàn yào ， zhēn shì tián bù zhī chǐ 。

Boasting after harming others is utterly shameless.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%81%AC%E4%B8%8D%E7%9F%A5%E6%81%A5)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=872&webMd=1&la=0)

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