# 无地自容

wú dì zì róng

Feel intensely ashamed

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Have nowhere to place oneself

**Traditional Chinese:** 無地自容

**Register:** Emotional · general

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

## When to use it

Describe embarrassment that makes one want to disappear.

Usually figurative, not literal exclusion.

## Understanding the expression

The person feels so ashamed that there seems to be no place where they can stand comfortably. The expression captures the wish to vanish from other people's view after a mistake, exposure, or awkward moment. Modern use often involves strong embarrassment rather than serious wrongdoing. It can be sympathetic or humorous. The feeling is the main point; it does not prove that everyone present actually condemns the person.

## Examples

说错名字后，我无地自容。

### Traditional Chinese

說錯名字後，我無地自容。

shuō cuò míng zì hòu ， wǒ wú dì zì róng 。

After saying the wrong name, I felt deeply embarrassed.

他被揭穿谎言，顿时无地自容。

### Traditional Chinese

他被揭穿謊言，頓時無地自容。

tā bèi jiē chuān huǎng yán ， dùn shí wú dì zì róng 。

When his lie was exposed, he felt intensely ashamed.

她迟到又打断演讲，觉得无地自容。

### Traditional Chinese

她遲到又打斷演講，覺得無地自容。

tā chí dào yòu dǎ duàn yǎn jiǎng ， jué de wú dì zì róng 。

Arriving late and interrupting the speech left her mortified.

朋友的宽慰让他不再无地自容。

### Traditional Chinese

朋友的寬慰讓他不再無地自容。

péng yǒu de kuān wèi ràng tā bú zài wú dì zì róng 。

His friend's comfort eased his shame.

## 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=%E7%84%A1%E5%9C%B0%E8%87%AA%E5%AE%B9)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=137&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

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- [无理取闹 wú lǐ qǔ nào Make trouble without reasonable grounds ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wu-li-qu-nao)

- [五体投地 wǔ tǐ tóu dì Admire someone intensely ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/wu-ti-tou-di)

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