好意思（hǎo yì si）

Pronunciation: hǎo yì si

Basic Meaning: to have the audacity; to feel no shame

Detailed Explanation: 好意思 can be understood as "to have the audacity" or "to feel no shame." It is used to describe someone who is shameless or lacks modesty in a certain situation. It is often used to express surprise or disbelief at someone's audacity or lack of embarrassment.

Usage Scenarios: This idiom is commonly used in daily conversations to express surprise, amusement, or disapproval towards someone's behavior. It can be used in various situations to express one's astonishment or disbelief at someone's audacity or lack of shame.

Story Origin: The exact origin of this idiom is unclear, but it is believed to have originated from ancient Chinese literature and has been used in the Chinese language for centuries.

Structure of the Idiom: The structure of this idiom is "好" (hǎo) meaning "good" or "well" and "意思" (yì si) meaning "meaning" or "intention." Together, it expresses the idea of someone having a "good" or "positive" intention without feeling any shame.

Example Sentences:

1. 他好意思問我要錢，我都沒給他。

Translation: He had the audacity to ask me for money, but I didn't give him any.

2. 你怎么好意思遲到了一個小時？

Translation: How can you have the audacity to be an hour late?

Memory Techniques: To remember this idiom, you can associate the sound of "好意思" (hǎo yì si) with someone saying "How dare you!" or "Can you believe it?" This can help you remember the meaning of the idiom and its usage in expressing surprise or disbelief.

Extended Learning: To further expand your understanding of this idiom, you can explore other related idioms or expressions that convey similar meanings, such as "厚顏無恥" (hòu yán wú chǐ) meaning "shameless" or "brazen."

Example Sentences from Different Age Groups:

1. Children: 他好意思拿走我的玩具，太壞了！

Translation: He had the audacity to take my toy, how mean!

2. Teenagers: 他好意思向老師要求延長作業的截止日期。

Translation: He had the audacity to ask the teacher to extend the deadline for the assignment.

3. Adults: 他怎么好意思在公眾場合大聲打電話？

Translation: How can he have the audacity to make a loud phone call in public?