恥ずかしい
恥ずかしい in 30 Sekunden
- Means 'embarrassing', 'shy', or 'ashamed'.
- An i-adjective (hazukashii, hazukashikatta, hazukashikunai).
- Central to Japanese 'shame culture' and social awareness.
- Used for both minor blunders and serious disgrace.
The Japanese word 恥ずかしい (hazukashii) is a fundamental i-adjective that encompasses a broad spectrum of emotional states related to self-consciousness. At its core, it describes the feeling of wanting to hide or disappear because of how one is perceived by others. This can range from mild social awkwardness to deep, soul-crushing shame. In an A2 context, it is most frequently used to describe the embarrassment felt after making a mistake or the shyness felt when meeting new people. Unlike the English word 'ashamed,' which often implies a moral failing, hazukashii is frequently used for trivial social blunders, such as tripping in public or forgetting someone's name.
- Primary Meaning
- Feeling embarrassed or shy in a social context.
- Emotional Range
- Covers everything from 'bashful' to 'humiliated'.
- Social Function
- Often used to acknowledge a breach of social etiquette.
人前で話すのは、とても恥ずかしいです。
— Speaking in front of people is very embarrassing/makes me feel shy.
In Japanese culture, which is often described as a 'shame culture' (haji no bunka), this word carries significant weight. It reflects the importance of the 'public face' (soto) versus the 'private self' (uchi). When you say something is hazukashii, you are often indicating that your public image has been compromised. This is why the word is so prevalent in daily conversation; it serves as a social lubricant to admit vulnerability. For example, if you realize your shirt is inside out, saying 'Hazukashii!' immediately signals to others that you are aware of the mistake, which helps restore social balance.
間違えて、顔が赤くなるほど恥ずかしかった。
— I was so embarrassed by my mistake that my face turned red.
Furthermore, the word can be used to describe something that is 'disgraceful' or 'beneath one's dignity.' In more formal or serious contexts, it suggests that an action is not worthy of a person's status or the expectations of society. For a learner, mastering the nuances of hazukashii is a key step in understanding Japanese social dynamics and the delicate art of expressing humility and self-awareness.
そんなことをするのは、大人として恥ずかしいことだ。
— Doing such a thing is shameful for an adult.
- Conjugation Note
- As an i-adjective, it changes to 'hazukashikatta' in the past and 'hazukashikunai' in the negative.
Using 恥ずかしい (hazukashii) correctly requires understanding its role as an i-adjective. It typically follows the standard rules for i-adjectives in Japanese grammar. You can use it to modify nouns directly (e.g., 恥ずかしい経験 - an embarrassing experience) or as a predicate at the end of a sentence (e.g., 本当に恥ずかしいです - It is truly embarrassing). Because it describes a personal feeling, when talking about a third person's feelings, you often append 〜がる to form 恥ずかしがる (hazukashigaru), which means 'to act shy' or 'to appear embarrassed.'
彼女は恥ずかしがって、何も言わなかった。
— She was acting shy and didn't say anything.
In terms of intensity, you can modify it with adverbs like totemo (very), sugoku (extremely), or chotto (a little). A common pattern is 〜て恥ずかしい, where the 'te-form' of a verb or adjective provides the reason for the embarrassment. For example, 'Makete hazukashii' means 'I am embarrassed because I lost.' This structure is vital for explaining the context of your feelings.
- Direct Modification
- 恥ずかしい話 (An embarrassing story)
- Reasoning Structure
- [Reason in Te-form] + 恥ずかしい
- Third Person
- 恥ずかしがっている (Is acting shy)
When you want to express that something is 'too embarrassing to do,' you can use the structure 〜するのが恥ずかしい. This is often heard when people are reluctant to perform in public, speak a foreign language they aren't confident in, or wear certain clothes. It's a very polite way to decline an invitation to do something that puts you in the spotlight. For instance, 'Utau no ga hazukashii' (I'm too shy to sing).
穴があったら入りたいほど恥ずかしい。
— I'm so embarrassed I want to crawl into a hole (and disappear).
Finally, consider the level of formality. In casual speech, you might just say 'Hazukashii!' or 'Hazukashi-!' with a trailing vowel for emphasis. In formal settings, 'Hazukashii shidai desu' or 'Hazukashii kagiri desu' are used to express deep regret or shame regarding a professional failure. These higher-level expressions are common in business apologies.
You will encounter 恥ずかしい (hazukashii) in almost every facet of Japanese life. In anime and manga, it is a staple word for characters who are 'tsundere' or simply shy. You'll often see a character blushing and shouting 'Hazukashii!' when they receive a compliment or find themselves in a romantic situation. It is the go-to word for expressing the 'moe' aspect of shyness. In these contexts, it's often more about 'bashfulness' than 'shame.'
そんなに見ないで。 恥ずかしいから。
— Don't look at me like that. It's embarrassing (I'm shy).
In daily life, you'll hear it in shops, schools, and offices. A student might say it when they get an answer wrong. A coworker might say it when they realize they've been walking around with a price tag still on their new jacket. It's also common in variety shows (baraieti bangumi), where celebrities are often put in 'hazukashii' situations for comedic effect. The 'batsu-geemu' (punishment game) often involves doing something publicly embarrassing.
- Pop Culture
- Blushing anime characters and romantic comedies.
- Daily Blunders
- Spilling a drink or tripping in public.
- Social Etiquette
- When receiving unexpected praise.
Another common place to hear it is in the context of parenting. Parents often tell their children 'Hazukashii desho!' (Isn't that embarrassing!) to discourage bad behavior in public. This reinforces the social norm of 'haji' (shame) from a young age, teaching children to be mindful of how their actions reflect on themselves and their family. It's a powerful tool for social conditioning in Japan.
外で泣くのは恥ずかしいことだよ。
— It's embarrassing to cry in public, you know.
In literature and news, the word takes on a more serious tone. You might read about a 'hazukashii jiken' (a shameful incident) involving a public official. In these cases, the translation leans more toward 'disgraceful' or 'ignominious.' Understanding the context—whether it's a lighthearted blunder or a serious moral lapse—is key to interpreting the word correctly.
One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with 恥ずかしい (hazukashii) is using it to mean 'guilty.' While 'embarrassed' and 'guilty' can overlap, Japanese uses different words for moral guilt, such as moushiwake nai (feeling sorry/guilty toward someone) or tsumi no ishiki (consciousness of sin/crime). Hazukashii is primarily about the 'gaze' of others. If you feel bad about a secret you kept, but no one knows, you might feel ushiro-metai (guilty/shameful privately), but you wouldn't necessarily say hazukashii until the secret is out.
× 嘘をついて恥ずかしいです。 (Unless the lie was exposed)
— Correct: 嘘をついて申し訳ないです (I feel guilty for lying).
Another mistake is the confusion between hazukashii and tereru. While both can mean 'shy,' tereru is specifically the positive, 'warm' kind of shyness you feel when someone praises you or when you're with someone you like. Hazukashii is more neutral or negative. If you use hazukashii when someone gives you a gift, it might sound like you are genuinely uncomfortable rather than just modestly bashful.
- Mistake 1
- Using it for internal guilt instead of social embarrassment.
- Mistake 2
- Confusing it with 'tereru' (bashful due to praise).
- Mistake 3
- Forgetting to use 'hazukashigaru' for third-person descriptions.
Learners also often forget the difference between describing a situation and describing a person's character. To say someone is a 'shy person,' you don't usually say 'hazukashii hito' (which could mean 'an embarrassing person'—someone who makes others feel embarrassed). Instead, you should use hazukashigariya (a shy person) or uchiki na hito.
○ 彼は恥ずかしがり屋です。
— He is a shy person.
Finally, be careful with the intensity. Using hazukashii for a very minor slip-up is fine, but using it for a major tragedy might seem insensitive or shallow. It's a word that lives in the realm of social perception, so use it when the 'eyes of the world' (seken no me) are involved.
Understanding the synonyms and related terms for 恥ずかしい (hazukashii) will greatly improve your expressive range. The most common related word is 照れる (tereru). As mentioned, this is the 'good' kind of shy. When you blush because your crush talked to you, you are terete iru. It's often associated with a smile, whereas hazukashii is often associated with looking down or covering one's face.
褒められて、照れてしまった。
— I felt bashful/shy because I was praised.
Another important word is 情けない (nasakenai). This means 'miserable,' 'pathetic,' or 'shameful' in a way that evokes pity. While hazukashii is about the embarrassment of the moment, nasakenai is about a lack of spirit or a disappointing performance. If you fail an exam because you didn't study at all, you might feel nasakenai (ashamed of your own laziness).
- 照れる (Tereru)
- To be bashful/shy (positive/romantic/praise).
- 情けない (Nasakenai)
- To feel pathetic or miserably ashamed.
- 決まりが悪い (Kimari ga warui)
- To feel awkward or self-conscious in a specific situation.
Then there is 気まずい (kimazui), which means 'awkward.' This is used when the atmosphere between people becomes uncomfortable. If you run into an ex-partner, the situation is kimazui. You might feel hazukashii as well, but kimazui describes the tension in the air. Another nuance is 面目ない (menboku nai), a formal way to say 'I am ashamed' or 'I have lost face,' often used in business apologies.
失敗して、合わせる顔がない。本当に面目ない。
— I failed and can't face you. I am truly ashamed (lost face).
Lastly, 内気 (uchiki) and 人見知り (hitomishiri) describe personality traits. Uchiki is 'shy/introverted,' while hitomishiri specifically refers to being shy around strangers. If you are 'hazukashigariya,' you might be both, but hitomishiri is the more common way to describe the difficulty of talking to new people.
How Formal Is It?
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Schwierigkeitsgrad
Wichtige Grammatik
Beispiele nach Niveau
恥ずかしいです。
I am shy / It is embarrassing.
Simple present tense.
名前を忘れて、恥ずかしいです。
I forgot the name and I'm embarrassed.
Reason (te-form) + hazukashii.
先生と話すのは恥ずかしいです。
Talking with the teacher is embarrassing (makes me shy).
Verb nominalizer 'no' + hazukashii.
恥ずかしくないですよ。
It's not embarrassing, you know.
Negative form.
田中さんは恥ずかしがり屋です。
Mr. Tanaka is a shy person.
Noun for a shy person.
ちょっと恥ずかしいです。
I'm a little embarrassed.
Adverb 'chotto' for softening.
恥ずかしい!
How embarrassing!
Exclamatory use.
顔が恥ずかしいです。
My face is (red/embarrassed).
Describing physical state.
昨日はとても恥ずかしかったです。
Yesterday was very embarrassing.
Past tense 'hazukashikatta'.
間違えるのは恥ずかしいことじゃありません。
Making mistakes is not an embarrassing thing.
Negative 'ja arimasen'.
恥ずかしがらないでください。
Please don't be shy.
Negative request with 'hazukashigaru'.
歌うのが恥ずかしくて、できませんでした。
I was too embarrassed to sing, so I couldn't.
Te-form for cause/reason.
恥ずかしい経験を話しました。
I talked about an embarrassing experience.
Modifying a noun.
彼はいつも恥ずかしそうにしています。
He always looks embarrassed/shy.
Appearance suffix 'sou'.
人前で転んで、恥ずかしかったです。
I fell in front of people and was embarrassed.
Sequential actions leading to feeling.
恥ずかしいから、見ないで!
It's embarrassing, so don't look!
Reason 'kara' + imperative.
恥ずかしくて、穴があったら入りたい気分だった。
I was so embarrassed I felt like I wanted to crawl into a hole.
Idiomatic expression.
そんなに褒められると、恥ずかしいです。
I feel embarrassed (bashful) when I'm praised that much.
Conditional 'to'.
恥ずかしい話ですが、財布を忘れました。
It's an embarrassing story, but I forgot my wallet.
Introductory phrase.
自分の間違いを認めるのは恥ずかしいことではない。
Admitting your own mistake is not something to be ashamed of.
Nominalized phrase as subject.
彼女は恥ずかしがって、顔を赤くした。
She acted shy and her face turned red.
Compound sentence with 'hazukashigaru'.
日本人は恥ずかしいと感じることが多いと言われる。
It is said that Japanese people often feel embarrassed.
Passive reporting 'iwareru'.
恥ずかしい思いをさせたくない。
I don't want to make you feel embarrassed.
Causative 'sasete'.
こんなに汚い部屋を見せるのは恥ずかしい。
It's embarrassing to show such a messy room.
Describing a specific action.
プロとして、こんなミスをするのは恥ずかしい限りだ。
As a professional, making such a mistake is extremely shameful.
Emphasis 'kagiri'.
彼は恥ずかしさを隠そうとして、わざと笑った。
He tried to hide his embarrassment and laughed on purpose.
Volitional 'kakusou' + 'to shite'.
恥ずかしい思いをした分、成長できたと思う。
I think I was able to grow as much as I felt embarrassed.
Comparison 'bun'.
親に恥ずかしい思いをさせてしまった。
I ended up making my parents feel ashamed (of me).
Causative-perfective 'sasete shimatta'.
恥ずかしいという感情は、社会的なものだ。
The emotion of embarrassment is a social one.
Apposition 'to iu'.
人前で叱られるのは、誰だって恥ずかしいものだ。
Being scolded in front of others is embarrassing for anyone.
Generalization 'mono da'.
恥ずかしげもなく、彼は嘘をつき続けた。
Without any sense of shame, he continued to lie.
Adverbial 'hazukashige mo naku'.
その行為は、国民として恥ずかしいと言わざるを得ない。
I cannot help but say that act is shameful as a citizen.
Double negative 'iwazaru wo enai'.
過去の自分を振り返ると、恥ずかしいことばかりだ。
Looking back at my past self, it's full of nothing but embarrassing things.
Focus 'bakari'.
恥ずかしさと怒りが入り混じった複雑な心境だった。
It was a complex state of mind, a mix of embarrassment and anger.
Compound verb 'hairimajitta'.
彼の振る舞いは、名門の家柄に恥ずかしいものだった。
His behavior was shameful for a family of such prestigious lineage.
Contextual shame relative to status.
恥ずかしいという一言では言い表せないほどの屈辱を感じた。
I felt a humiliation that couldn't be expressed by the word 'embarrassed' alone.
Emphasis 'hodo'.
無知を恥ずかしいと思うことが、学びの第一歩だ。
Thinking of one's ignorance as shameful is the first step to learning.
Abstract concept of shame.
恥ずかしい思いを噛み締めながら、彼は会場を後にした。
Chewing over his feelings of shame, he left the venue.
Metaphorical 'kamishimeru'.
世間に恥ずかしい姿をさらしてしまった。
I exposed my shameful state to the world.
Collocation 'sugata wo sarasu'.
その失態は、彼にとって生涯の恥ずかしい記憶となった。
That blunder became a lifelong embarrassing memory for him.
Modifying 'kioku'.
生きていく上で、恥ずかしいという感覚を失ってはならない。
In living one's life, one must not lose the sense of shame.
Prohibition 'te wa naranai'.
恥ずかしいという感情の根源を、文学的に考察する。
To literarily examine the root of the emotion of shame.
Academic tone.
それは、人としての矜持に照らして恥ずかしい行為であった。
That was an act shameful in light of one's pride as a human being.
Formal 'ni terashite'.
恥ずかしいという言葉の裏には、日本特有の美意識が潜んでいる。
Behind the word 'hazukashii' lies an aesthetic sense unique to Japan.
Cultural analysis.
万人の前で恥ずかしい思いをさせられた屈辱は、筆舌に尽くしがたい。
The humiliation of being made to feel ashamed before everyone is beyond description.
Idiom 'hitsuzetsu ni tsukushigatai'.
恥ずかしいという意識が、個人の行動を律する強力な規範となる。
The consciousness of shame becomes a powerful norm that governs individual behavior.
Sociological terminology.
己の未熟さを恥ずかしいと感じる心こそが、向上心の源泉である。
The very heart that feels one's immaturity is shameful is the source of the desire to improve.
Emphasis 'koso'.
恥ずかしいという情動が、他者との調和を保つための防波堤となっている。
The emotion of shame acts as a breakwater to maintain harmony with others.
Metaphorical usage.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
恥ずかしい! (How embarrassing!)
恥ずかしがらないで。 (Don't be shy.)
穴があったら入りたいほど恥ずかしい。 (So embarrassed I want to crawl in a hole.)
恥ずかしい話ですが... (This is embarrassing, but...)
見ていて恥ずかしい。 (It's embarrassing just to watch.)
恥ずかしい思いをしました。 (I had an embarrassing time.)
そんなに褒められると恥ずかしい。 (I'm shy when praised that much.)
恥ずかしくて言えません。 (I'm too embarrassed to say it.)
恥ずかしいことじゃないよ。 (It's nothing to be ashamed of.)
恥ずかしいからやめて。 (Stop it, it's embarrassing.)
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Tereru is positive/bashful; Hazukashii is neutral/negative/embarrassed.
Nasakenai is 'pathetic/miserable'; Hazukashii is 'embarrassed/shy'.
Kimazui is 'awkward atmosphere'; Hazukashii is 'personal feeling of shame'.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
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Leicht verwechselbar
Satzmuster
So verwendest du es
Hazukashii is a subjective feeling. What is hazukashii for one person might not be for another.
It often implies a violation of 'Kyouki' (public spirit) or 'Manners'.
Tipps
Accept Compliments
When someone praises your Japanese, saying 'Hazukashii desu' while smiling is a very natural and humble response.
Te-form Connection
Always use the te-form to explain WHY you are embarrassed. 'Machigaete hazukashii' is much better than two separate sentences.
The 'i' Drop
In very casual speech, the final 'i' might be dropped or turned into a small 'tsu' sound for emphasis: 'Hazukash-!'
Person Suffix
Learn 'hazukashigariya' as a single unit to describe a shy person. It's much more common than using the adjective alone.
Empathy
Saying 'Hazukashii desu ne' to someone who just made a mistake can actually be empathetic, showing you understand their feeling.
Kanji Recognition
The kanji 恥 contains 'ear' (耳). Remember that your ears turn red when you are 'hazukashii'.
Tone Matters
A high-pitched 'Hazukashii!' is usually lighthearted. A low, slow 'Hazukashii...' usually indicates genuine shame.
Don't Overuse
While common, don't use it for every single interaction. Sometimes 'sumimasen' or 'tereru' is more accurate.
Public vs Private
Remember that 'hazukashii' almost always implies that someone else is watching or could be watching.
The Red Face
Visualize the word as a mask you put on when you want to hide your face from the world.
Einprägen
Wortherkunft
Derived from the verb 'hazuku' (to be constrained/shy), evolving into the modern adjective form.
Kultureller Kontext
Using 'hazukashii' when praised is a standard way to show modesty (kenjou).
The phrase 'Hazukashii desho!' is one of the first social lessons Japanese children learn.
Japan is often cited as a 'shame culture' where external perception matters most, compared to 'guilt cultures' where internal conscience is primary.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Gesprächseinstiege
"最近、何か恥ずかしいことがありましたか? (Has anything embarrassing happened to you lately?)"
"人前で話すのは恥ずかしいですか? (Is it embarrassing for you to speak in public?)"
"恥ずかしい時、顔が赤くなりますか? (When you're embarrassed, does your face turn red?)"
"子供の頃、恥ずかしがり屋でしたか? (Were you a shy person when you were a child?)"
"どんな時に恥ずかしいと感じますか? (In what kind of situations do you feel embarrassed?)"
Tagebuch-Impulse
一番恥ずかしかった経験について書いてください。 (Write about your most embarrassing experience.)
「恥ずかしい」と「照れる」の違いは何だと思いますか? (What do you think is the difference between 'hazukashii' and 'tereru'?)
あなたの国で「恥ずかしい」とされる行動は何ですか? (What actions are considered 'embarrassing' in your country?)
恥ずかしいという感情は、なぜ大切だと思いますか? (Why do you think the emotion of shame is important?)
恥ずかしさを克服する方法について考えてください。 (Think about ways to overcome shyness/embarrassment.)
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it can be used for shyness or bashfulness, which can be seen as cute or modest in certain contexts. However, it usually implies some level of discomfort.
If you say 'Kare wa hazukashii,' it means 'He is an embarrassing person.' To say 'He is embarrassed,' you should use 'Kare wa hazukashigatte iru.'
'Haji' is the noun meaning 'shame' or 'disgrace.' 'Hazukashii' is the adjective describing the feeling of being ashamed or embarrassed.
You can say 'Hazukashigariya ja arimasen' or 'Uchiki ja arimasen.'
If you make a small mistake, it's okay. For a major error, 'Menboku gozaimasen' or 'Moushiwake gozaimasen' is more appropriate.
Not exactly. It's about social embarrassment. For moral guilt, use 'moushiwake nai' or 'tsumi no ishiki'.
It's a key trope for expressing vulnerability, shyness, or romantic tension, which are popular themes in anime.
The most direct opposite is 'hokorashii' (proud). 'Doudou to shite iru' (confident/dignified) is also an antonym.
Yes, it is the standard word to use if someone sees you undressed or if you are wearing revealing clothes.
It is 'hazukashikunatta' (became not embarrassing) or 'hazukashikunakatta' (was not embarrassing).
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Summary
恥ずかしい (hazukashii) is a versatile i-adjective that covers the spectrum of social discomfort. Whether you are shy, embarrassed by a mistake, or feeling a sense of disgrace, this word is the primary way to express that you are conscious of how others see you.
- Means 'embarrassing', 'shy', or 'ashamed'.
- An i-adjective (hazukashii, hazukashikatta, hazukashikunai).
- Central to Japanese 'shame culture' and social awareness.
- Used for both minor blunders and serious disgrace.
Accept Compliments
When someone praises your Japanese, saying 'Hazukashii desu' while smiling is a very natural and humble response.
Te-form Connection
Always use the te-form to explain WHY you are embarrassed. 'Machigaete hazukashii' is much better than two separate sentences.
The 'i' Drop
In very casual speech, the final 'i' might be dropped or turned into a small 'tsu' sound for emphasis: 'Hazukash-!'
Person Suffix
Learn 'hazukashigariya' as a single unit to describe a shy person. It's much more common than using the adjective alone.
Verwandte Inhalte
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mehr emotions Wörter
ぼんやり
B1Vaguely; absentmindedly; dimly.
夢中
B1Absorption; engrossment; infatuation.
受け止める
B1To accept; to take; to grasp.
達成感
B1Sense of accomplishment.
ひしひしと
B1Acutely; keenly; strongly (feeling something).
適応する
B1To adapt; to adjust.
健気な
B2Brave, admirable, or plucky (especially of a weaker person).
感心な
B1Admirable; deserving admiration.
感心
B1Admiration, impression, or being impressed.
感心する
B1To be impressed; to admire.