きまりが悪い

• Reading: きまりがわるい
• Romaji: kimarigawarui
• Kanji breakdown: 悪 (waru) — bad, wrong
• Pronunciation: /ki.ma.ɾi.ɡa.wa.ɾɯ.i/

Meaning

Embarrassed; ashamed; feeling awkward. A sense of social discomfort or sheepishness.

An i-adjective expression describing the feeling of embarrassment when one has done something awkward or been put in an uncomfortable social situation. きまり refers to social norms or settled expectations, so 悪い (bad) indicates those norms have been disrupted. Often used when caught in an embarrassing moment or feeling self-conscious.

Examples

1. 人前で転んできまりが悪かった。 I fell down in front of everyone and felt so embarrassed.
2. 間違いを指摘されてきまりが悪そうにしていた。 When his mistake was pointed out, he looked embarrassed.
3. 遅刻してみんなに見られてきまりが悪い思いをした。 I was late and everyone stared at me — it was mortifying.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, social situations, self-reflection, narratives

Tone: sheepish

Origin & History

From きまり (kimari, settled state/norm/rule) + が + 悪い (warui, bad). When the settled social order feels disrupted — when things are 'not right' — one experiences this embarrassment.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal