人見知り
Meaning
Shyness around strangers; being awkward or reserved when meeting new people.
人見知り originally described a developmental stage in babies who fear strangers, but it has become a widely used self-identifier among Japanese adults. Calling yourself 人見知り is socially acceptable and even somewhat endearing — it explains introversion without negative judgment. It is one of the most common self-descriptions on dating profiles and social media bios.
Examples
- 人見知りだから初対面の人と話すの苦手なんだよね。 I'm shy around strangers so I'm not great at talking to people I've just met.
- 最初は人見知りするけど、慣れたらめっちゃ喋るよ。 I'm shy at first, but once I warm up I talk a ton.
- 人見知りすぎて飲み会が毎回つらい。 I'm so shy around new people that every drinking party is painful.
Usage Guide
Context: self-introduction, dating profiles, social media, casual conversation
Tone: self-deprecating, explanatory, endearing
Do Say
- 人見知りなので最初は静かかもしれません (I'm shy around strangers so I might be quiet at first)
- 人見知りだったけど最近克服しようとしてる (I was always shy but I've been trying to overcome it recently)
Don't Say
- 社交的な人に「人見知りでしょ」と決めつけるのは失礼 (Assuming someone outgoing is actually 人見知り can be dismissive of their social efforts)
Common Mistakes
- Translating 人見知り as social anxiety disorder — it is much milder and more socially acceptable than a clinical diagnosis
- Not realising almost everyone in Japan claims to be 人見知り to some degree — it is a comfortable social label
Origin & History
From 人 (person) + 見知り (recognising/knowing by sight). Originally a child psychology term for the developmental stage when infants become wary of strangers (around 8 months). Extended to adult self-description in modern usage.
Cultural Context
Era: Originally child psychology, widely adopted as adult self-description in modern era
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Extremely common in self-introductions and social media profiles.
Related Phrases
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