屈辱 (qū rǔ) is a compound noun meaning 'humiliation' or 'disgrace' — a deep, painful feeling of being degraded, belittled, or treated unjustly. The character 屈 means 'to bend' or 'to submit', often implying forced compliance or loss of dignity; 辱 means 'insult', 'shame', or 'dishonor'. Together, they evoke the image of being bent down against one’s will and then shamed — not just embarrassment, but a wound to one’s self-respect or national/cultural pride.

This word carries strong emotional weight and is commonly used in historical, political, or personal contexts involving injustice, defeat, or violation of rights. It appears frequently in discussions of modern Chinese history (e.g., the 'Century of Humiliation'), but also in literature and everyday speech when describing profound personal offense — such as enduring unfair treatment at work or betrayal by someone trusted. It is more formal and intense than words like 丢脸 (diū liǎn, 'to lose face') and rarely used lightly.