shame / disgrace
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shame / disgrace
A state or action that leads to a loss of honor and reputation and is felt to be deeply shameful.
Sein betrügerisches Verhalten war eine Schande für die ganze Familie.
His fraudulent behavior was a disgrace to the whole family.
'Die Schande' (shame/disgrace) belongs to the word family around the stem 'schäm'. The related verb is 'sich schämen' (to be ashamed), and the adjective is 'schändlich' (shameful/disgraceful). All of these words relate to the feeling of dishonor or embarrassment.
Er schämte sich für sein Verhalten.
He was ashamed of his behavior.
When expressing for whom or what something is a disgrace, the preposition 'für' (for) is used with the accusative. The structure is: 'eine Schande für jemanden/etwas sein' (to be a disgrace to someone/something).
Seine Lügen waren eine große Schande für die gesamte Mannschaft.
His lies were a great disgrace to the entire team.
The fixed expression 'Es ist eine Schande, dass...' (It's a shame that...) introduces a subordinate clause in which the conjugated verb comes at the end. Alternatively, the expression can also be used with 'zu' and an infinitive.
Es ist eine Schande, dass so gute Lebensmittel weggeworfen werden.
It's a shame that such good food is thrown away.
too bad
'schade' and 'die Schande' can both express that something is judged negatively. 'schade' is used for regret or disappointment, often in normal everyday situations. 'die Schande' is much stronger. It is about something shameful, or about strong annoyance that something seems morally wrong or very unfair. Especially in the phrase 'Es ist eine Schande, dass ...' (it's a shame that ...), it can sound like 'very bad and upsetting'. Learners may confuse the words because they look similar. For small or ordinary regret, say 'schade'; for strong outrage or disgrace, use 'Schande'.
Es ist eine Schande, dass die alten Akten im Keller einfach verschwunden sind.
It's a shame that the old files in the basement simply disappeared.
Schade, dass Karim am Montag nicht zum Termin kommen kann.
It's too bad that Karim can't come to the appointment on Monday.