Word Detail

The Japanese word 恥ずかしい (はずかしい) primarily translates to "embarrassed," "ashamed," or "shy" in English. It describes the feeling of awkwardness, self-consciousness, or shame, usually stemming from a situation where one's actions, appearance, or knowledge are perceived negatively, or when one is put in an uncomfortable position. It can also describe a feeling of bashfulness or shyness. The degree of the feeling can vary, ranging from mild awkwardness to deep shame. The meaning of 恥ずかしい depends on context.

⚫︎人前で転んで、恥ずかしいと思った。 Translation: I felt embarrassed after tripping in front of people. ⚫︎試験で悪い点を取って、恥ずかしい。 Translation: I'm ashamed of getting a bad score on the test. ⚫︎彼女の前で大声で笑ってしまい、恥ずかしい。 Translation: I'm embarrassed that I laughed loudly in front of my girlfriend.

⚫︎You can use 恥ずかしい to express your own feelings of embarrassment, shame, or shyness. ⚫︎It's also used when you want to describe someone else's feelings, though you would modify the verb appropriately. For example, to say "He is embarrassed," you might say 彼は恥ずかしいです (かれははずかしいです - Kare wa hazukashii desu). ⚫︎This word is commonly used in everyday conversation, from casual settings to more formal ones. ⚫︎The degree of the feeling depends on the specific context.

⚫︎恥ずかしい is typically written in hiragana as はずかしい. ⚫︎The kanji form is 恥ずかしい, which is the most common form in written Japanese. The kanji 恥 means "shame" or "embarrassment," and ずかしい is an adjective ending. ⚫︎There are no significant variations in okurigana for this word.

⚫︎照れる (てれる) - To be shy, to be embarrassed (more often used for shyness or bashfulness). ⚫︎きまりが悪い (きまりがわるい) - Feeling awkward, feeling embarrassed (more situational). ⚫︎赤面する (せきめんする) - To blush (from embarrassment). ⚫︎面目ない (めんもくない) - Ashamed, disgraced (more formal). ⚫︎There is a range of similar feelings that can be considered synonyms depending on the specific nuance desired.

⚫︎平気 (へいき) - Calm, unconcerned, indifferent. ⚫︎堂々としている (どうどうとしている) - Being self-possessed, dignified. ⚫︎There is no single perfect antonym, as the opposite feeling depends on the specific aspect of embarrassment or shame being addressed.

みんなの前で歌を歌うのが恥ずかしいです。 ・Translation: I am embarrassed to sing in front of everyone. ・Explanation: This sentence directly expresses the speaker's feeling of embarrassment in a specific situation.

彼女に告白して断られたので、恥ずかしい。 ・Translation: I'm embarrassed because I confessed to her and was rejected. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates the feeling of shame or embarrassment resulting from a failed romantic confession.

The kanji 恥 (はじ) refers to a feeling of shame or disgrace. The adjective ending ずかしい is added to this kanji to form the word 恥ずかしい. The etymology stems from the basic meaning of the kanji, reflecting the psychological state of embarrassment and shame.