羞辱 is a verb meaning 'to humiliate' or 'to insult'—it describes an act that deeply damages someone’s dignity or self-respect, often publicly or intentionally. The character 羞 (xiū) means 'shame' or 'embarrassment', while 辱 (rǔ) means 'disgrace' or 'insult'; together, they form a compound emphasizing the dual emotional and social injury caused by degrading treatment. It conveys strong negative emotion and moral judgment, and is commonly used in formal speech, news reports, literature, and discussions of ethics or interpersonal conflict.

This word is stronger than casual terms like 'offend' or 'upset'—it implies a deliberate, often humiliating act that causes lasting emotional harm. It frequently appears in contexts involving power imbalance (e.g., bullying, abuse of authority, or public shaming), and may carry legal or moral weight, especially when describing violations of personal dignity. While it can be used transitively ('to shame someone'), it is never used reflexively without clear context (e.g., *自己羞辱* is rare and awkward unless deliberately stylized).