羞 (xiū)

shy; ashamed; shame; bashful; variant of 饈|馐[xiu1]; delicacies

Etymology

Depicts a hand (丑) holding sheep meat (羊). Based on the original meaning "offer a delicacy", now written as 饈. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“羞,進獻也。从羊,羊所進也;从丑,丑亦聲。”

Original meaning

offer a delicacy

Components