可耻 (kě chǐ) is an adjective meaning 'shameful' or 'despicable', describing behavior, actions, or attitudes that violate moral standards and provoke strong disapproval. The character 可 (kě) here functions as a modal particle meaning 'can be' or 'worthy of', while 耻 (chǐ) means 'shame' or 'disgrace'. Together, they literally mean 'worthy of shame' — emphasizing not just personal embarrassment but objective moral unacceptability.

This word carries strong negative judgment and is commonly used in formal speech, education, media, and public criticism. It’s rarely used for minor social faux pas; instead, it applies to serious ethical failures — like cheating on exams, betraying trust, or exploiting others. Unlike milder terms such as 丢脸 (diū liǎn, 'to lose face'), 可耻 implies a deeper moral failing and often appears with intensifiers like 极其 (jíqí, 'extremely') or 真是 (zhēn shì, 'truly'). It’s frequently employed in moral instruction or social commentary to reinforce shared values.