やましい

• Reading: やましい
• Romaji: yamashii
• Pronunciation: /ja.ma.ɕiː/

Meaning

Guilty; having a guilty conscience; shady. Describes a feeling of inner unease caused by doing something one knows to be wrong.

An i-adjective expressing moral discomfort — the awareness that one has acted dishonestly or wrongly. Commonly appears in the phrase やましいところはない (I have nothing to hide / my conscience is clear). The word sits between simple embarrassment and overt guilt, capturing the nagging sense that one's conduct cannot bear scrutiny. Often used in legal or ethical contexts.

Examples

1. 彼の目が泳いでいたのは、やましいことがあった証拠だったのかもしれない。 The way his eyes were darting around may have been proof that he had a guilty conscience.
2. やましいところは一切ないと断言できるなら、堂々と証言すればいい。 If you can declare with certainty that you have nothing to feel guilty about, then go ahead and testify openly.
3. 後ろめたさとやましい気持ちが交錯し、素直に謝ることができなかった。 Torn between remorse and guilt, he couldn't bring himself to apologize honestly.

Usage Guide

Context: ethics, legal contexts, personal reflection, interpersonal conflict

Tone: introspective

Origin & History

The kanji form is 疚しい, from 疚 (ku/yama) suggesting festering inner pain. The hiragana form is standard in modern writing. The root relates to illness and inner corruption — implying that moral wrongdoing festers like a wound from within.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: General