気が引ける

• 読み: きがひける
• ローマ字: ki ga hikeru
• 漢字の分解: 気 (ki) — spirit, mind; 引 (in/hi) — pull, draw back
• 発音: /ki.ɡa.çi.ke.ɾɯ/

意味

To feel awkward; to feel ashamed; to feel inferior; to feel shy about doing something.

An expression using Group 2 (ichidan) verb 引ける. Literally 'one's spirit is pulled back,' describing the feeling of hesitation or reluctance caused by embarrassment, guilt, or a sense of imposing on others. Reflects the Japanese sensitivity to burdening others (meiwaku) and social propriety.

例文

1. こんな高価なものをもらうのは気が引ける。
2. 先に帰るのは気が引けるが、体調が悪い。
3. 周りが忙しいのに休みを取るのは気が引けた。

使い方ガイド

場面: social situations, workplace, gifts

トーン: humble

起源と歴史

From 気 (spirit, feelings) and 引ける (to be pulled back). The image is of one's spirit being tugged backward by reluctance or social discomfort, preventing forward action.

文化的背景

時代: Edo period

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal