辜负
gū fù · HSK 7
to let down
💔 辜 (guilt/crime) + 负 (carry/owe) = carrying the guilt of letting someone down
辜 means guilt or wrongdoing; 负 means to bear, owe, or fail at. Together they describe the act of failing to repay trust — you carry the debt of someone's broken expectations.
负 — person 𠂉 (人) on top + cowrie shell 贝
Originally depicted a person carrying cowrie shells (money), showing someone bearing a load or owing wealth. From this came the meanings 'to carry on the back,' 'to bear a burden,' and by extension 'to owe' or 'negative.' The simplified form 负 keeps 贝 (shell/money) under a person.