恥ずかしい

• Reading: はずかしい
• Romaji: hazukashii
• Kanji breakdown: 恥 (haji/ha) — shame, embarrassment, disgrace
• Pronunciation: /ha.zɯ.ka.ɕi.i/

Meaning

Embarrassing; embarrassed; ashamed. Describes both the feeling of shame and the thing causing it.

An i-adjective that covers a wide range of embarrassment — from mild shyness to deep shame. Unlike English, the same word describes both the cause and the feeling: 恥ずかしいことをした (did something embarrassing) and 恥ずかしいです (I feel embarrassed). Conjugates regularly: 恥ずかしくない, 恥ずかしかった.

Examples

1. みんなの前で歌うのは恥ずかしいです。 It's embarrassing to sing in front of everyone.
2. 間違えて恥ずかしかったです。 I made a mistake and felt embarrassed.
3. 恥ずかしくて何も言えませんでした。 I was so embarrassed that I couldn't say anything.

Usage Guide

Context: emotions, social situations, daily life

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Derived from the noun 恥 (haji, shame), one of the core concepts in Japanese social culture. The kanji 恥 combines 耳 (ear) and 心 (heart), suggesting the flush of shame felt in the ears.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal