<p>羞 didn't originally mean shame/shy and 丑 didn't originally mean ugly.</p>
<p>丑 is originally a hand with curled fingers, later borrowed to become an earthly branch. Ugly, and all its associated meanings like disgrace, shame, and even clown were originally 醜, which became replaced with 丑 in 'simplified' Chinese. I believe 丑 was borrowed as part of 羞.</p>
<p>羞 is a hand 手 holding a lamb 羊, to offer it as a sacrifice or for food, originally meaning &quot;offering&quot;. The hand got changed into 丑, which doubles up as phonetic component.
Offering is now written as 馐.</p>
<p>羞 earlier on had its meaning shifted to become shame or shy, possibly because lambs and sheep are shy and timid creatures, while ugly was still written as 醜.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E9%A6%90" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E9%A6%90</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E7%BE%9E" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E7%BE%9E</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-15T10:44:50.287Z
2021-04-15T10:44:50.287Z
Fishuman
<p>The character 「丑」 is <strong>not related</strong> to the character 「醜」. Correspondingly, there is <strong>no relation</strong> between 「羞」 and 「醜」. 「丑」 is exclusively used nowadays for the meaning <em>second <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthly_Branches#Twelve_branches" rel="nofollow noreferrer">earthly branch</a></em>; PRC's usage of 「丑」 to mean <em>ugly</em> is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_character_classification#Phono-semantic_compound_characters" rel="nofollow noreferrer">phonetic loan</a>, and is not shared among other character-using languages.</p>
<hr />
<p>The character system and the Chinese language don't really work around &quot;Simplified Chinese&quot;, which is really just a drastically changed writing standard made up in the 20th century and (for all intents and purposes) only used in the PRC. I would suggest not to think like this,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Since 醜 is the traditional version of 丑</p>
</blockquote>
<p>which is backwards logic, but rather</p>
<blockquote>
<p>PRC changed 「醜」 into 「丑」</p>
</blockquote>
<p>because knowing that it is almost always PRC and “Simplified Chinese” which did something bizarre, one can more easily pick out nonsense like this:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(會意兼形聲。據甲骨文,以手持羊,表示進獻。小篆從羊,從醜,醜亦聲。“醜”是手的訛變。本義:進獻)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The above sentence is an incredibly sloppy <strong>machine conversion</strong> of the following &quot;Simplified Chinese&quot; sentence:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(会意兼形声。据甲骨文,以手持羊,表示进献。小篆从羊,从丑,丑亦声。“丑”是手的讹变。本义:进献)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The correct interpretation of this sentence is</p>
<blockquote>
<h3>羞<br></h3>
<p>會意兼形聲。據甲骨文，以「手」持「羊」，表示進獻。小篆从「羊」，从「丑」，「丑」亦聲。「丑」是「手」的訛變。本義：進獻.</p>
<p>「羞」, classified as simultaneously <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_character_classification#Compound_ideographs" rel="nofollow noreferrer">compound-semantic</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_character_classification#Phono-semantic_compound_characters" rel="nofollow noreferrer">phono-semantic</a>. Based on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">oracle bone script</a>, 「羞」 depicts a <em>hand</em> 「手」 grasping a <em>sheep</em> 「羊」, representing the meaning <em>to respectfully offer [something]</em>. In <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_seal_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">small seal script</a>, it is comprised of semantic 「羊」 and simultaneously semantic and phonetic 「丑」, where 「丑」 is a graphical corruption of 「手」. Original meaning: <em>to respectfully offer [something]</em>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This description is not <em>quite</em> right, because it muddles the description of character components; specifically, whoever wrote this mixed up the character <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=129" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「手」</a> with the character <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=20" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「又」</a>, which are distinct. Although both 「手」 and 「又」 represent <em>hands</em>, characters point to distinct words which involve <strong>different sounds</strong>, and 「手」 (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstructions_of_Old_Chinese#Baxter%E2%80%93Sagart_(2014)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Baxter-Sagart OC</a>: <strong>/*n̥uʔ/</strong>) is not etymologically related to 「又」 (<strong>/*[ɢ]ʷəʔ/</strong>, <em>right hand</em>, now written as 「右」).</p>
<hr />
<h2>Glyph origin of 「羞」</h2>
<div class="s-table-container">
<table class="s-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: center;">時期<br>字體</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">字形</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">參考資料</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty" rel="nofollow noreferrer">商</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">甲</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QNUx1.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QNUx1.png" alt="⿸羊又" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">甲</a>2006<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.net/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=30768&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集30768</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_and_Autumn_period" rel="nofollow noreferrer">春秋</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">金</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/kgRQB.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kgRQB.png" alt="⿸羊又" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">洹子孟姜壺<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.net/yzjwjc/?bh=9729&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成9729</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty" rel="nofollow noreferrer">秦</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_and_wooden_slips" rel="nofollow noreferrer">簡</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/PzFwn.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PzFwn.png" alt="⿸羊又" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">語書11<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuihudi_Qin_bamboo_texts" rel="nofollow noreferrer">睡虎地秦簡</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Western_Han" rel="nofollow noreferrer">西漢</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">隸</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/R2VHI.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/R2VHI.png" alt="羞" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">有司53<br>武威漢簡</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script" rel="nofollow noreferrer">楷</a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/eiKcZ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/eiKcZ.png" alt="羞" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p><kbd><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QNUx1.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QNUx1.png" alt="⿸羊又" /></a><br>　</kbd><kbd><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/kgRQB.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kgRQB.png" alt="⿸羊又" /></a><br>　</kbd><kbd><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/PzFwn.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PzFwn.png" alt="⿸羊又" /></a><br>　</kbd><kbd><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E9%9A%B8%E5%AE%9A" rel="nofollow noreferrer">隸定</a><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/k2Tnu.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/k2Tnu.png" alt="⿸羊又" /></a><br>　</kbd></p>
<p>「羞」 (<strong>/*s-nu/</strong>) was originally 「⿸羊又」, comprised of semantic <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=2288" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「羊」 (<em>sheep</em>)</a> and semantic <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=20" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「又」 (<em>right hand</em></a> &gt; <em>actions</em>), indicating the meaining <em>to respectfully offer [something]</em>.</p>
<p><kbd><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/R2VHI.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/R2VHI.png" alt="羞" /></a><br>　</kbd><kbd><br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/eiKcZ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/eiKcZ.png" alt="羞" /></a><br>　</kbd></p>
<p>「又」 was later slightly shape-changed into <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=64" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「丑」</a> (<strong>/*[n̥]ruʔ/</strong>) to additionally give a sound hint.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>Sheep</em> were one of the most important livestock animals during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Shāng period</a>, commonly kept in pens for sacrificial purposes and used as tributes and offerings. From <a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.net/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=32420&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">《甲骨文合集》32420</a>:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/L6XrDl.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/L6XrDl.png" alt="《甲骨文合集》32420" /></a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>丁戼（卯）鼎（貞）：＂／<br>
王（其）爯（琡），／<br>
尞（燎）三「」，／<br>
戼（劉）...... 牢？／<br>
＂<p>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone#Shang_divination" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Divination</a> on the day of <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%81%E5%8D%AF" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>dīngmǎo</em></a>, it is asked: &quot;Shall the king offer up a ceremonial jade weapon, conduct a burning ritual with three <strong>penned sheep</strong>, and perform a slaughtering ritual......penned cattle?&quot;</p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<hr />
<h2>Glyph origin of 「丑」</h2>
<div class="s-table-container">
<table class="s-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: center;">時期<br>字體</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">字形</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">參考資料</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">商<br>甲</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/FavD9.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FavD9.png" alt="丑" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">菁</a>3.1<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.net/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=10405&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集10405</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Zhou" rel="nofollow noreferrer">西周</a><br>金</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/pHezm.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pHezm.png" alt="丑" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">作冊夨令簋<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.net/yzjwjc/?bh=4300&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成4300</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">西周<br>金</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/5toLg.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/5toLg.png" alt="丑" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">同簋蓋<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.net/yzjwjc/?bh=4270&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">集成4270</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">秦<br>簡</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/trk6e.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/trk6e.png" alt="丑" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">日書乙種31<br>睡虎地秦簡</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Eastern_Han" rel="nofollow noreferrer">東漢</a><br>隸</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0GDpb.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0GDpb.png" alt="丑" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">僖卅二年<br>熹平石經</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br>楷</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/K2ZSI.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/K2ZSI.png" alt="丑" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>「丑」 depicts <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=20" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>a hand</em> 「又」</a> with long fingernails, indicating the original meaning <em>clawed hand</em>. This word is now more commonly written with the variant character <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=149" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「爪」</a> (<strong>/*[ts]ˤuʔ/</strong>); the meaning <em>second <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthly_Branches#Twelve_branches" rel="nofollow noreferrer">earthly branch</a></em> (<strong>/*[n̥]ruʔ/</strong>) is a phonetic loan.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Glyph origin of 「醜」</h2>
<div class="s-table-container">
<table class="s-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: center;">時期<br>字體</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">字形</th>
<th style="text-align: center;">參考資料</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">商<br>甲</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/y0tFR.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/y0tFR.png" alt="醜" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference" rel="nofollow noreferrer">續</a>4.9.2<br><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.net/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&amp;bh=12878&amp;jgwfl=" rel="nofollow noreferrer">合集12878</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period" rel="nofollow noreferrer">戰國</a>・<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jin_(Chinese_state)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">晉</a><br>玉片文字</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/K9JVo.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/K9JVo.png" alt="醜" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">侯馬盟書<br>戰國文字編</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">秦<br>簡</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/3Pk1v.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/3Pk1v.png" alt="醜" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">語書12<br>睡虎地秦簡</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">東漢<br>隸</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4DD8m.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4DD8m.png" alt="醜" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">譙敏碑<br>　</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">楷</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/OZBXq.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OZBXq.png" alt="醜" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p>「醜」 (<strong>/*t.qʰuʔ/</strong>, <em>ugly</em>) is made up of semantic <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=1960" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「鬼」</a> (<em>monster</em>) and phonetic <a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=718" rel="nofollow noreferrer">「酉」</a> (<strong>/*N-ruʔ/</strong>).</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>References:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>季旭昇《說文新證》</li>
<li>劉釗《古文字構形學》</li>
<li><a href="https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian" rel="nofollow noreferrer">小學堂字形演變</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">國學大師</a>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">郭沫若《甲骨文合集》</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">中國社會科學院考古研究所《殷周金文集成》</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-15T16:20:20.407Z
2021-04-17T02:30:54.960Z
2021-04-17T02:30:54.960Z
dROOOze
<p>害羞 (shy) is Mandarin</p>
<p>怕醜 (shy) is Cantonese</p>
<p>羞 is not simplified to 丑, the simplified character of 羞 is still 羞</p>
<p>I suspect 醜(ugly) was mistaken as 羞(shame/shy) by a Cantonese editor and simplified to 丑 (ugly/shame/shy) using the lower part of 羞. I meant whoever simplified  醜 to 丑 must have known/thought 羞 and 醜 contain the same meaning of 'shame' therefore, 丑 is a valid simplified character for 醜. and left the character 羞 not simplified</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-14T17:04:06.040Z
2021-04-14T17:16:10.953Z
2021-04-14T17:16:10.953Z
Tang Ho
<p>Since 醜 is the traditional version of 丑, why is the lower part of a traditional 羞 丑 but not 醜?</p>
<p>I found this <a href="https://tw.18dao.net/%E6%BC%A2%E8%AA%9E%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E7%BE%9E" rel="nofollow noreferrer">羞</a>,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(會意兼形聲。據甲骨文,以手持羊,表示進獻。小篆從羊,從醜,醜亦聲。“醜”是手的訛變。本義:進獻)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But it doesn't explain why it is 丑.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-15T14:48:16.470Z
Adding to what the others have answered, during simplification, hundreds of characters were merged with others, often characters with ancient or obscure meanings the traditional 丑. Both 醜 and 丑 are proper traditional characters with separate meanings, although over time they often started being used as popular variants, which is where many simplified characters come from. Some of them [are listed at the bottom of this page](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/简化字#合併簡化示例).
gnucchi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-16T03:23:30.590Z
Need to be careful when citing old literature. You need to make sure what you cite is not a transformation from simplified Chinese to traditional Chinese. In what you cited above, 醜 should be 丑。
joehua
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-16T05:29:46.357Z
I don't think there is a direct link between 醜 and 丑. 丑 is the same as "clown" - 丑角. While the clown does not look good with facial makeup, it is far from ugly (醜), which is a person's natural facial appearance. Another usage of 丑 is time - 子, 丑, 寅....
r13
<character-components>
The relationship between 羞 and 醜
# The relationship between 羞 and 醜

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-14)

Since 醜 is the traditional version of 丑, why is the lower part of a traditional 羞 丑 but not 醜?

I found this [羞](https://tw.18dao.net/%E6%BC%A2%E8%AA%9E%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E7%BE%9E),

> (會意兼形聲。據甲骨文,以手持羊,表示進獻。小篆從羊,從醜,醜亦聲。“醜”是手的訛變。本義:進獻)

But it doesn't explain why it is 丑.

**Tags:** character-components

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Adding to what the others have answered, during simplification, hundreds of characters were merged with others, often characters with ancient or obscure meanings the traditional 丑. Both 醜 and 丑 are proper traditional characters with separate meanings, although over time they often started being used as popular variants, which is where many simplified characters come from. Some of them [are listed at the bottom of this page](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/简化字#合併簡化示例).  
> **username_2**: Need to be careful when citing old literature. You need to make sure what you cite is not a transformation from simplified Chinese to traditional Chinese. In what you cited above, 醜 should be 丑。  
> **username_3**: I don't think there is a direct link between 醜 and 丑. 丑 is the same as "clown" - 丑角. While the clown does not look good with facial makeup, it is far from ugly (醜), which is a person's natural facial appearance. Another usage of 丑 is time - 子, 丑, 寅....  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-04-15. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

羞 didn't originally mean shame/shy and 丑 didn't originally mean ugly.

丑 is originally a hand with curled fingers, later borrowed to become an earthly branch. Ugly, and all its associated meanings like disgrace, shame, and even clown were originally 醜, which became replaced with 丑 in 'simplified' Chinese. I believe 丑 was borrowed as part of 羞.

羞 is a hand 手 holding a lamb 羊, to offer it as a sacrifice or for food, originally meaning "offering". The hand got changed into 丑, which doubles up as phonetic component.
Offering is now written as 馐.

羞 earlier on had its meaning shifted to become shame or shy, possibly because lambs and sheep are shy and timid creatures, while ugly was still written as 醜.

<https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E9%A6%90>

<https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E7%BE%9E>


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2021-04-15. Score: 1

The character 「丑」 is **not related** to the character 「醜」. Correspondingly, there is **no relation** between 「羞」 and 「醜」. 「丑」 is exclusively used nowadays for the meaning *second [earthly branch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthly_Branches#Twelve_branches)*; PRC's usage of 「丑」 to mean *ugly* is a [phonetic loan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_character_classification#Phono-semantic_compound_characters), and is not shared among other character-using languages.

---

The character system and the Chinese language don't really work around "Simplified Chinese", which is really just a drastically changed writing standard made up in the 20th century and (for all intents and purposes) only used in the PRC. I would suggest not to think like this,

> Since 醜 is the traditional version of 丑

which is backwards logic, but rather

> PRC changed 「醜」 into 「丑」

because knowing that it is almost always PRC and “Simplified Chinese” which did something bizarre, one can more easily pick out nonsense like this:

> (會意兼形聲。據甲骨文,以手持羊,表示進獻。小篆從羊,從醜,醜亦聲。“醜”是手的訛變。本義:進獻)

The above sentence is an incredibly sloppy **machine conversion** of the following "Simplified Chinese" sentence:

> (会意兼形声。据甲骨文,以手持羊,表示进献。小篆从羊,从丑,丑亦声。“丑”是手的讹变。本义:进献)

The correct interpretation of this sentence is

> ### 羞
>
> 會意兼形聲。據甲骨文，以「手」持「羊」，表示進獻。小篆从「羊」，从「丑」，「丑」亦聲。「丑」是「手」的訛變。本義：進獻.
>
> 「羞」, classified as simultaneously [compound-semantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_character_classification#Compound_ideographs) and [phono-semantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_character_classification#Phono-semantic_compound_characters). Based on [oracle bone script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script), 「羞」 depicts a *hand* 「手」 grasping a *sheep* 「羊」, representing the meaning *to respectfully offer [something]*. In [small seal script](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_seal_script), it is comprised of semantic 「羊」 and simultaneously semantic and phonetic 「丑」, where 「丑」 is a graphical corruption of 「手」. Original meaning: *to respectfully offer [something]*.

This description is not *quite* right, because it muddles the description of character components; specifically, whoever wrote this mixed up the character [「手」](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=129) with the character [「又」](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=20), which are distinct. Although both 「手」 and 「又」 represent *hands*, characters point to distinct words which involve **different sounds**, and 「手」 ([Baxter-Sagart OC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstructions_of_Old_Chinese#Baxter%E2%80%93Sagart_(2014)): **/\*n̥uʔ/**) is not etymologically related to 「又」 (**/\*[ɢ]ʷəʔ/**, *right hand*, now written as 「右」).

---

## Glyph origin of 「羞」

| 時期 字體 | 字形 | 參考資料 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [商](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty) [甲](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone_script) | [⿸羊又](https://i.sstatic.net/QNUx1.png) | [甲](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference)2006 [合集30768](http://www.guoxuedashi.net/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&bh=30768&jgwfl=) |
| [春秋](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_and_Autumn_period) [金](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bronze_inscriptions) | [⿸羊又](https://i.sstatic.net/kgRQB.png) | 洹子孟姜壺 [集成9729](http://www.guoxuedashi.net/yzjwjc/?bh=9729&jgwfl=) |
| [秦](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_dynasty) [簡](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_and_wooden_slips) | [⿸羊又](https://i.sstatic.net/PzFwn.png) | 語書11 [睡虎地秦簡](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuihudi_Qin_bamboo_texts) |
| [西漢](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Western_Han) [隸](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_script) | [羞](https://i.sstatic.net/R2VHI.png) | 有司53 武威漢簡 |
| [楷](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_script) | [羞](https://i.sstatic.net/eiKcZ.png) |  |

`![⿸羊又](https://i.sstatic.net/QNUx1.png)` `![⿸羊又](https://i.sstatic.net/kgRQB.png)` `![⿸羊又](https://i.sstatic.net/PzFwn.png)``隸定  
![⿸羊又](https://i.sstatic.net/k2Tnu.png)`

「羞」 (**/\*s-nu/**) was originally 「⿸羊又」, comprised of semantic [「羊」 (*sheep*)](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=2288) and semantic [「又」 (*right hand*](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=20) > *actions*), indicating the meaining *to respectfully offer [something]*.

`![羞](https://i.sstatic.net/R2VHI.png)` `![羞](https://i.sstatic.net/eiKcZ.png)`

「又」 was later slightly shape-changed into [「丑」](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=64) (**/\*[n̥]ruʔ/**) to additionally give a sound hint.

> *Sheep* were one of the most important livestock animals during the [Shāng period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_dynasty), commonly kept in pens for sacrificial purposes and used as tributes and offerings. From [《甲骨文合集》32420](http://www.guoxuedashi.net/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&bh=32420&jgwfl=):
>
> [![《甲骨文合集》32420](https://i.sstatic.net/L6XrDl.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/L6XrDl.png)
>
> > 丁戼（卯）鼎（貞）：＂／  
> > 王（其）爯（琡），／  
> > 尞（燎）三「」，／  
> > 戼（劉）...... 牢？／  
> > ＂
> >
> > [Divination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_bone#Shang_divination) on the day of [*dīngmǎo*](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%81%E5%8D%AF), it is asked: "Shall the king offer up a ceremonial jade weapon, conduct a burning ritual with three **penned sheep**, and perform a slaughtering ritual......penned cattle?"

---

## Glyph origin of 「丑」

| 時期 字體 | 字形 | 參考資料 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 商 甲 | [丑](https://i.sstatic.net/FavD9.png) | [菁](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference)3.1 [合集10405](http://www.guoxuedashi.net/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&bh=10405&jgwfl=) |
| [西周](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Zhou) 金 | [丑](https://i.sstatic.net/pHezm.png) | 作冊夨令簋 [集成4300](http://www.guoxuedashi.net/yzjwjc/?bh=4300&jgwfl=) |
| 西周 金 | [丑](https://i.sstatic.net/5toLg.png) | 同簋蓋 [集成4270](http://www.guoxuedashi.net/yzjwjc/?bh=4270&jgwfl=) |
| 秦 簡 | [丑](https://i.sstatic.net/trk6e.png) | 日書乙種31 睡虎地秦簡 |
| [東漢](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Eastern_Han) 隸 | [丑](https://i.sstatic.net/0GDpb.png) | 僖卅二年 熹平石經 |
| 楷 | [丑](https://i.sstatic.net/K2ZSI.png) |  |

「丑」 depicts [*a hand* 「又」](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=20) with long fingernails, indicating the original meaning *clawed hand*. This word is now more commonly written with the variant character [「爪」](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=149) (**/\*[ts]ˤuʔ/**); the meaning *second [earthly branch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthly_Branches#Twelve_branches)* (**/\*[n̥]ruʔ/**) is a phonetic loan.

---

## Glyph origin of 「醜」

| 時期 字體 | 字形 | 參考資料 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 商 甲 | [醜](https://i.sstatic.net/y0tFR.png) | [續](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian/Reference/JiaguwenReference)4.9.2 [合集12878](http://www.guoxuedashi.net/jgwhj/?bhfl=1&bh=12878&jgwfl=) |
| [戰國](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period)・[晉](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jin_(Chinese_state)) 玉片文字 | [醜](https://i.sstatic.net/K9JVo.png) | 侯馬盟書 戰國文字編 |
| 秦 簡 | [醜](https://i.sstatic.net/3Pk1v.png) | 語書12 睡虎地秦簡 |
| 東漢 隸 | [醜](https://i.sstatic.net/4DD8m.png) | 譙敏碑 |
| 楷 | [醜](https://i.sstatic.net/OZBXq.png) |  |

「醜」 (**/\*t.qʰuʔ/**, *ugly*) is made up of semantic [「鬼」](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=1960) (*monster*) and phonetic [「酉」](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian?kaiOrder=718) (**/\*N-ruʔ/**).

---

**References:**

* 季旭昇《說文新證》
* 劉釗《古文字構形學》
* [小學堂字形演變](https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/yanbian)
* [國學大師](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/)
  + [郭沫若《甲骨文合集》](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/jgwhj/)
  + [中國社會科學院考古研究所《殷周金文集成》](http://www.guoxuedashi.com/yzjwjc/)


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2021-04-14. Score: 0

害羞 (shy) is Mandarin

怕醜 (shy) is Cantonese

羞 is not simplified to 丑, the simplified character of 羞 is still 羞

I suspect 醜(ugly) was mistaken as 羞(shame/shy) by a Cantonese editor and simplified to 丑 (ugly/shame/shy) using the lower part of 羞. I meant whoever simplified 醜 to 丑 must have known/thought 羞 and 醜 contain the same meaning of 'shame' therefore, 丑 is a valid simplified character for 醜. and left the character 羞 not simplified


---

