這些動詞均含“使丟臉、使受恥辱”之意。
disgrace : 側重在別人,尤其在眾人面前丟臉。
They have disgraced the whole school.(他們給整個學校都丟了臉。) humiliate : 強調受辱者自尊心的損壞。
Parents are humiliated if their children behave badly when guests are present.(子女在客人面前舉止失當, 父母也失體面。)
shame : 指由不光彩或不道德的行為引起的慚愧感或羞恥感。
The class's unruly behavior shamed the teacher.(這班學生不守規(guī)矩的行為使老師感到羞愧。)
dishonor : 有時可與disgrace換用,但前者是指因失去榮譽所致。 There’s no dishonor in losing.(失敗并不是恥辱。)