はずかしい

§ What "hazukashii" means

Japanese Word

はずかしい (hazukashii)

Word Type

i-adjective

CEFR Level

A2

Definition

Embarrassing; ashamed.

The Japanese adjective はずかしい (hazukashii) is used to describe something that is embarrassing, or to express the feeling of being ashamed. It's a common word you'll hear in everyday conversations. Think of it like saying "It's embarrassing" or "I'm ashamed."

§ Using "hazukashii" in conversations

You'll often hear はずかしい when people are talking about situations that make them feel awkward or self-conscious. It can be used for lighthearted embarrassment or for more serious feelings of shame.

Here are some common situations where you might encounter this word:

• When someone makes a mistake in public.
• When someone is praised excessively.
• When talking about a personal secret or a faux pas.
• When feeling shy or bashful.

Translation Hint

Giving a speech in front of everyone is very embarrassing.

In this example, the speaker is expressing their feeling of embarrassment about public speaking.

Translation Hint

I did such a stupid thing, I'm so ashamed.

Here, the feeling is stronger, expressing shame over a foolish action.

§ "Hazukashii" at work or school

In work or school settings, はずかしい can come up when discussing performance, mistakes, or even just social interactions. It's a natural human emotion.

Translation Hint

I was caught eating breakfast during the meeting, and it was so embarrassing.

This is a common office situation. Someone got caught doing something they shouldn't have been.

Translation Hint

I asked a strange question in front of the teacher, and it's embarrassing.

This shows a student feeling embarrassed about asking a question they perceive as silly.

§ "Hazukashii" in news or media

While you might not hear はずかしい directly from a news anchor, it can appear in interviews or commentaries where people are expressing their feelings about public events or figures. For instance, someone might say they are はずかしい about a politician's actions.

Translation Hint

His statement is utterly shameful for the citizens.

This expresses a strong feeling of shame on behalf of a group. It's a common way to criticize public figures.

§ Don't confuse 'embarrassing' with 'shy'

Many English speakers learning Japanese sometimes mix up the meanings of 'embarrassing' and 'shy'. While 'embarrassing' can lead to feeling shy, they are not the same. はずかしい (hazukashii) specifically means 'embarrassing' or 'ashamed'. It describes a situation or feeling that causes you to blush or feel awkward because of something that has happened or been said.

§ Using it for general shyness

It's a common mistake to use はずかしい when you simply mean someone is shy or timid in general. While an embarrassing situation can make someone shy, the word itself doesn't mean 'shy personality'. For describing a shy personality, you would use other words like 内気な (uchikina) or 人見知り (hitomishiri).

Common Mistake

彼はとてもはずかしい人です。(Kare wa totemo hazukashii hito desu.) - Incorrect when trying to say 'He is a very shy person.'

Correct Usage for Shy Personality

彼はとても内気な人です。(Kare wa totemo uchikina hito desu.) - He is a very shy person.

§ Attributing 'embarrassing' to an object

While in English we might say 'that's an embarrassing photo,' in Japanese, はずかしい usually describes the *feeling* of embarrassment or something that *causes* embarrassment to a person. You wouldn't typically say a photo itself is はずかしい in the same direct way.

Common Mistake

これははずかしい写真です。(Kore wa hazukashii shashin desu.) - This is an embarrassing photo. (Sounds a bit unnatural; implying the photo *itself* feels embarrassed.)

Better phrasing

この写真は私をはずかしくさせます。(Kono shashin wa watashi o hazukashiku sasemasu.) - This photo makes me embarrassed.

この写真は見られるとはずかしいです。(Kono shashin wa mirareru to hazukashii desu.) - This photo is embarrassing when seen (by others).

§ Overusing it for awkward situations

While 'awkward' and 'embarrassing' often overlap, not every awkward situation is necessarily はずかしい. Sometimes a situation might just be uncomfortable or inconvenient without necessarily causing a feeling of shame or embarrassment.

§ Forgetting to conjugate

はずかしい is an い-adjective, so remember its conjugations. For example, to make it past tense, it becomes はずかしかった (hazukashikatta).

• あの時は: At that time
• 本当に: Really
• はずかしかった: Was embarrassed (past tense of はずかしい)
• です: Politeness marker

Understanding these common mistakes will help you use はずかしい more accurately and naturally in your Japanese conversations. Pay attention to the context and whether you're describing a feeling of shame/embarrassment versus general shyness or an awkward situation.

§ はずかしい (hazukashii): Embarrassing; ashamed

はずかしい (hazukashii) is a common Japanese i-adjective that expresses feelings of embarrassment or shame. It's an important word to understand because Japanese culture places a strong emphasis on not causing trouble for others, and public perception often plays a significant role in how people feel. This adjective can describe a situation that *causes* embarrassment, or the feeling of being *ashamed* yourself.

§ Key Uses of はずかしい

You'll use はずかしい in a few main situations:

• To describe an embarrassing situation or thing: This is when something *causes* you or others to feel embarrassed.

  大街で転んだのはとてもはずかしい。

  Hint

  Falling in the street was very embarrassing.

• To express your own feeling of shame or embarrassment: When you *feel* ashamed or embarrassed about something you did or said.

  前の失敗でとてもはずかしい気持ちだ。

  Hint

  I feel very ashamed about my previous mistake.

§ はずかしい vs. 恥ずかしい (yajurukashii) and 恥ずかしい (kashukashii)

You might encounter other words that seem similar to はずかしい, but they are not common or are incorrect. The primary and most standard way to express 'embarrassing' or 'ashamed' is with はずかしい.

Some learners might confuse the sound with other kanji or readings, but for everyday use and correct Japanese, stick with はずかしい (written in hiragana or with the kanji 恥ずかしい, though hiragana is very common).

§ Related expressions and nuances

• 恥ずかしがる (hazukashigaru): This is a verb meaning 'to be shy' or 'to feel embarrassed/ashamed (and show it)'. It emphasizes the outward expression of the feeling.

  彼はいつもはずかしがる。

  Hint

  He is always shy/embarrassed.

• てれる (tereru): This verb specifically means 'to be shy' or 'to blush'. It's often used when someone is flattered or a little bashful, rather than deeply ashamed.

  褒められててれてしまった。

  Hint

  I blushed when I was praised.

  While はずかしい and てれる can both relate to feelings of awkwardness, はずかしい often implies a stronger sense of mortification, shame, or deep discomfort, whereas てれる is lighter and more about bashfulness. You wouldn't typically use てれる to describe a truly 'embarrassing situation' in the same way you would はずかしい.

• 恥 (haji): This is a noun meaning 'shame' or 'disgrace'. It's a more formal and heavier word than はずかしい, often used in contexts of bringing shame upon oneself or one's family.

  個人的な失敗は一生の恥だ。

  Hint

  That personal failure is a lifelong shame.

  While both relate to shame, はずかしい describes the *feeling* or *quality* of being embarrassing/ashamed, while 恥 is the *concept* of shame itself.

§ Practical advice

When speaking Japanese, it's common to hear はずかしいです (hazukashii desu) or はずかしいなぁ (hazukashii naa) when someone expresses personal embarrassment. Don't be afraid to use it when you feel a bit awkward or have made a minor mistake. It's a natural human emotion, and acknowledging it is part of communicating effectively in Japanese.

Hint

Oh, this is a little embarrassing.

Mastering はずかしい will help you express a common human emotion and navigate social situations in Japan more smoothly. Keep practicing using it in different contexts, and you'll get the hang of it!