to shame
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to shame
To cause someone to feel shame or embarrassment. This often happens unintentionally through one's own exemplary or superior behavior.
Seine Großzügigkeit beschämte mich, weil ich selbst so geizig gewesen war.
His generosity shamed me because I had been so stingy myself.
The verb 'beschämen' (to shame) is derived from the noun 'die Scham' (shame). The prefix 'be-' turns the feeling (shame) into an action: causing this feeling in someone else.
Sein Fleiß beschämte die fauleren Kollegen.
His diligence shamed the lazier colleagues.
'Beschämen' (to shame) is a transitive verb. The person who feels the shame is always in the accusative.
Deine unerwartete Hilfe hat mich tief beschämt.
Your unexpected help deeply shamed me.
The feeling of being shamed is often triggered by a positive or exemplary action. The reason is often introduced with the preposition 'durch' (through/by).
Er beschämte die anderen durch seine Ehrlichkeit.
He shamed the others by his honesty.
to be ashamed
'sich schämen' and 'beschämen' are both connected to shame, but the direction is different. With 'sich schämen', the person themselves feels shame or embarrassment. With 'beschämen', someone or something causes this feeling in another person. The word can also mean that someone makes others look bad through very good or superior behavior. The words can be confused because they look similar. The grammar is important: 'sich schämen' is reflexive, so it uses 'sich'; 'beschämen' normally needs a person as its object.
Seine ruhige und ehrliche Antwort beschämte die anderen im Raum.
His calm and honest answer shamed the others in the room.
Frau Kaya schämt sich, weil sie die falsche Datei an den Kunden geschickt hat.
Ms. Kaya is ashamed because she sent the wrong file to the client.