羞赧 (xiū nǎn) is a literary, two-character adjective describing the visible physical reaction of blushing—especially reddening of the face—due to acute embarrassment, shyness, or modesty. The first character 羞 means 'shame' or 'embarrassment', while 赧 specifically denotes 'blushing' or 'turning red with shame'; together, they form an elegant, somewhat classical expression emphasizing both the emotional cause and its outward sign. It appears frequently in formal writing, poetry, and refined prose, but rarely in casual speech.

This term conveys a gentle, self-conscious vulnerability—not anger or guilt, but a tender, almost poetic discomfort. It often describes characters in literature reacting to praise, unexpected attention, romantic situations, or minor social missteps. Because it’s literary, 羞赧 carries a tone of restraint and dignity; it suggests the person feels flustered yet maintains composure. Modern spoken Chinese tends to use simpler terms like 害羞 (hài xiū) or 脸红 (liǎn hóng), but 羞赧 adds nuance and stylistic weight in written contexts.