A1 Idiom 中性

顔から火が出る

kao kara hi ga deru

Face turns red (from embarrassment)

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A vivid way to say you are burning with extreme embarrassment.

  • Means: To feel intense shame or embarrassment.
  • Used in: Social mistakes, public blunders, or awkward moments.
  • Don't confuse: It is not about actual fire or physical heat.
Face + Fire = Extreme Embarrassment

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means you are very, very embarrassed. Your face feels hot like fire because you made a mistake.
When you feel extremely ashamed or embarrassed, you can say your face is on fire. It is a common way to describe how you feel after a social mistake.
This idiom describes the intense physical sensation of blushing due to embarrassment. It is used to emphasize that a situation was mortifying, often used when telling stories about personal blunders.
Used to convey deep mortification, this phrase metaphorically equates the physiological response of blushing with the sensation of fire. It is a staple in narrative Japanese for describing moments of acute social discomfort.
This idiom serves as a vivid lexicalization of the 'shame-as-heat' metaphor. It is employed to underscore the severity of a social transgression, effectively communicating the speaker's internal state of distress to the listener through strong imagery.
The phrase functions as a culturally embedded expression of 'menboku' (face). By mapping the physiological manifestation of shame onto the image of fire, it provides a powerful rhetorical device for narrating social failure, reflecting the high-context nature of Japanese emotional expression.

意思

To feel extremely embarrassed or ashamed.

🌍

文化背景

In Japan, social harmony is key. Public embarrassment is often viewed as a significant disruption of the group's 'wa' (harmony). Western cultures often focus on the individual's internal feeling of shame, whereas Japanese culture focuses on the external social impact. The concept of 'face' is shared across East Asian cultures, where maintaining dignity is crucial for social standing.

💡

Use 'hodo'

Adding 'hodo' (to the extent of) makes the idiom sound much more natural.

⚠️

Don't be literal

Never use this if there is actual fire involved!

意思

To feel extremely embarrassed or ashamed.

💡

Use 'hodo'

Adding 'hodo' (to the extent of) makes the idiom sound much more natural.

⚠️

Don't be literal

Never use this if there is actual fire involved!

🎯

Context is key

Use it in stories to make your listeners feel your embarrassment with you.

自我测试

Choose the correct phrase.

When I made a mistake, my face felt like it was on fire. ( )

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： a

The idiom is 'face on fire', not water or wind.

Fill in the blank.

{失敗|しっぱい}して、{顔|かお}から{火|ひ}が( )ほど{恥|は}ずかしかった。

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： a

The verb 'deru' (to come out) is the correct part of the idiom.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Did you see him trip? B: Yes, he was so embarrassed, ( ).

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： a

The correct past tense form is 'deteita'.

Match the situation to the feeling.

You accidentally called your boss 'Mom'.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： a

This is a classic embarrassing situation.

🎉 得分： /4

视觉学习工具

常见问题

8 个问题

No, it is strictly for embarrassment or shame.

No, it is casual and conversational.

Use a different phrase, like 'chotto hazukashii'.

Yes, 'He looked like his face was on fire.'

Yes, it is a very popular trope in anime and manga.

No, Japanese doesn't have plural forms for idioms.

Yes, in novels and personal blogs.

You can, but the idiom is more expressive.

相关表达

🔄

{赤面|せきめん}する

synonym

To blush

🔗

{穴|あな}があったら{入|はい}りたい

similar

I want to crawl into a hole

🔗

{面目|めんぼく}ない

builds on

I have no face (I am ashamed)

在哪里用

🏫

Wrong classroom

Ken: I walked into the wrong class! {顔|かお}から{火|ひ}が{出|で}るほど{恥|は}ずかしかった！

informal
👩‍🏫

Calling teacher Mom

Student: I accidentally called my teacher 'Mom'. {顔|かお}から{火|ひ}が{出|で}る{思|おも}いだよ。

informal
☕

Spilling coffee

Friend: You spilled coffee on your boss? {顔|かお}から{火|ひ}が{出|で}るね...

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a fire alarm going off on your face every time you do something silly.

Visual Association

A cartoon character with a bright red face and actual flames shooting out of their cheeks.

Rhyme

Embarrassment is dire, my face is on fire.

Story

Ken walked into the wrong classroom. He saw 30 students staring at him. He felt his cheeks heat up. He thought, 'My face is on fire!' He quickly ran out.

Word Web

{恥|は}ずかしい{赤面|せきめん}{火|ひ}{顔|かお}{気|き}まずい{失敗|しっぱい}

挑战

Write three sentences about a time you were embarrassed using this phrase.

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Tierra, trágame

Japanese uses a heat metaphor; Spanish uses a disappearance metaphor.

French high

Rougir de honte

French is a literal description; Japanese is a figurative metaphor.

German moderate

Vor Scham im Boden versinken

German focuses on the desire to be invisible, not the physical sensation of heat.

Japanese self

{顔|かお}から{火|ひ}が{出|で}る

It is the standard Japanese idiom for this specific feeling.

Arabic moderate

تمنيت أن تنشق الأرض وتبتلعني

Arabic uses a more dramatic, existential metaphor compared to the physiological focus of Japanese.

Easily Confused

顔から火が出る 对比 {顔|かお}から{火|ひ}を{吹|ふ}く

Learners often mix 'deru' (come out) with 'fuku' (blow).

Both are used, but 'deru' is the standard idiom.

顔から火が出る 对比 {火|ひ}の{車|くるま}

Both contain 'hi' (fire), but 'hi no kuruma' means financial hardship.

Remember: Face = Embarrassment, Car = Money.

顔から火が出る 对比 {顔|かお}が{立|た}つ

Both relate to 'face', but 'kao ga tatsu' means to save face.

One is about shame (fire), one is about dignity (standing).

常见问题 (8)

No, it is strictly for embarrassment or shame.

No, it is casual and conversational.

Use a different phrase, like 'chotto hazukashii'.

Yes, 'He looked like his face was on fire.'

Yes, it is a very popular trope in anime and manga.

No, Japanese doesn't have plural forms for idioms.

Yes, in novels and personal blogs.

You can, but the idiom is more expressive.

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