It’S Embarrassing In Japanese

When someone experiences an awkward moment or makes a social mistake, they might say, It’s embarrassing. If you’re learning Japanese or interested in understanding how to express such feelings in another language, you might wonder how to say It’s embarrassing in Japanese. The Japanese language offers a variety of words and expressions to convey embarrassment depending on the context, formality, and intensity of the situation. This topic explores those expressions and provides examples to help you use them naturally in conversation.

Understanding the Concept of Embarrassment in Japanese

In English, the word embarrassing can describe situations that cause discomfort, shame, or awkwardness. Japanese, however, often uses context-specific words that can reflect subtle emotional nuances. Japanese culture places a strong emphasis on harmony and avoiding social disruption, so feelings of embarrassment can be deeply felt and carefully expressed.

The Most Common Expression: はずかだい (Hazukashii)

The most straightforward way to say It’s embarrassing in Japanese is by using the wordはずかだい (hazukashii). This adjective directly translates to embarrassing or embarrassed. It can be used in a variety of everyday situations.

• Example: それはちょっとはずかだいです。 (Sore wa chotto hazukashii desu.) – That’s a little embarrassing.
• Example: é–違えて話だてだまってはずかだかった。 (Machigaete hanashite shimatte hazukashikatta.) – I made a mistake while speaking and it was embarrassing.

Politeness and Formality

Japanese is a language rich with different levels of politeness. If you are speaking to someone of higher status, a teacher, or in a formal setting, you may want to use the polite form:

• はずかだいです (hazukashii desu) – This is the polite form of saying ‘It’s embarrassing.’

For casual conversation among friends or people of similar age, simply usingはずかだいwithout ‘です’ is acceptable.

Embarrassing in a Deeper or Shameful Sense: 恥ずかだい (Also Hazukashii)

Interestingly, the word はずかだい is written in kanji as恥ずかだい. The kanji 恥 (haji) means ‘shame,’ so when written this way, it can carry a slightly deeper connotation, implying a sense of personal shame or humiliation rather than just mild embarrassment.

Other Ways to Express Embarrassment in Japanese

While 恥ずかだい is the go-to word, there are other ways to express the idea depending on the situation or how strong the feeling is.

てれる (Tereru) – To Be Shy or Flustered

When someone becomes bashful or flustered due to attention or compliments, they might use the verbてれる (tereru).

• Example: 褒められててれちゃった。 (Homerarete terechatta.) – I got embarrassed from being praised.

Tereru is often used to describe a cute or endearing type of embarrassment, like when someone receives a compliment or becomes the center of attention unexpectedly.

赤面する (Sekimen suru) – To Blush

This phrase literally means ‘to turn red in the face’ and is used more in formal or written language to express physical embarrassment.

• Example: 彼の前でé–違えて、赤面だた。 (Kare no mae de machigaete, sekimen shita.) – I made a mistake in front of him and blushed.

恥をかく (Haji o kaku) – To Be Disgraced

This idiom is used when someone suffers a more serious kind of social embarrassment or disgrace.

• Example: パーティーでスãƒãƒ¼ãƒã‚’忘れて恥をかいた。 (PātÄ« de supÄ«chi o wasurete haji o kaita.) – I forgot my speech at the party and made a fool of myself.

How to Respond to Someone’s Embarrassment

If someone says they are embarrassed, you can show empathy in Japanese using comforting phrases like:

• æ° ã«ã ãªã„ã§ãã ã•ã„ (Ki ni shinaide kudasai) – Don’t worry about it.
• よくあるãã¨ã§ã™ã‚ˆ (Yoku aru koto desu yo) – It happens all the time.
• 大丈夫ですよ (Daijōbu desu yo) – It’s okay.

These phrases can be helpful when supporting someone who’s feeling ashamed or awkward, showing that you’re not judging them and that they’re not alone.

How to Practice Using These Expressions

In Everyday Conversations

Practice using these words in real-life scenarios, such as when talking to Japanese friends, language partners, or during classes. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; even if you feel embarrassed, it’s a great opportunity to use these new expressions.

Watching Japanese Media

Anime, dramas, and variety shows are rich sources of natural Japanese. You’ll hear characters say things like はずかだい！ when they’re caught in a funny or awkward situation. This helps reinforce your understanding and gives context to how expressions are used.

Journaling in Japanese

Try writing daily reflections in Japanese and include moments where you felt embarrassed. Use the new vocabulary to describe your experiences. For example:

• ä»Šæ ¥ã¯é§…ã§è»¢ã‚で、はずかだかった。 (Kyō wa eki de koronde, hazukashikatta.) – I fell at the station today and it was embarrassing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Be mindful not to confuseはずかだい(hazukashii) with other similar-sounding words likeうれだい(ureshii – happy) orかなだい(kanashii – sad). Pronunciation and context are key in Japanese, so listening carefully and practicing often will help avoid confusion.

Summary of Key Expressions

• はずかだい (hazukashii)– Embarrassing/embarrassed
• てれる (tereru)– To be bashful or shy
• 赤面する (sekimen suru)– To blush, to turn red
• 恥をかく (haji o kaku)– To be humiliated or make a fool of oneself

Each of these expressions helps you describe different types of embarrassment in Japanese, from light awkwardness to serious disgrace.

Learning how to say It’s embarrassing in Japanese opens up new ways to connect emotionally with others in conversation. Whether you are learning Japanese for travel, work, or personal interest, mastering words likeはずかだいadds depth and sensitivity to your speech. By understanding and practicing the right expressions, you can communicate more naturally and build stronger relationships in Japanese-speaking environments.