恥ずかしい
hazukashii[ha̠zɨka̠ɕiː]
The Japanese word for "embarrassing" is 恥ずかしい (hazukashii).
恥ずかしい is the most basic and widely used word to express that something is embarrassing. In informal settings, you might use やばい to playfully describe an embarrassing situation. If a situation is so awkward or embarrassing that it causes others to cringe or feel uncomfortable, the informal term ドン引き can be used. For a formal context, particularly when describing a situation that causes embarrassment and damages one's reputation, the phrase 体面を損ねる (to lose face) is appropriate.
Meaning: causing embarrassment (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
hazukashii
Did you know?
- Japanese culture distinguishes between 恥 (shame) and 罪 (guilt), with 恥ずかしい focusing on how one is perceived by the community rather than a personal sense of wrongdoing.
- While English speakers might say 'I am embarrassed' when they are modest about a compliment, Japanese speakers use 恥ずかしい to express this specific type of humble modesty.
- In modern slang, the word やばい is so versatile that it can mean 'embarrassing', 'amazing', 'terrible' or 'dangerous' depending entirely on the speaker's tone.
Examples in context
- 恥ずかしいなぁ！How embarrassing!Tatoeba #126817 by bunbuku, translation #277273 by CK
- テストの最中にお腹が鳴るのって、恥ずかしいよな。If your stomach growls in the middle of a test, that's pretty embarrassing.Tatoeba #901734 by bunbuku, translation #4108624 by pullnosemans
- 人前で頭をなでなでするのはやめて。恥ずかしいでしょ。Stop petting their head when you're in front of people. Don't you think it's embarrassing for them?Tatoeba #10771185 by small_snow, translation #10773581 by end
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are walking through a crowded street.
- 健太 Kenta道で転ぶなんて、本当に恥ずかしいよ。Michi de korobu nante, hontou ni hazukashii yo.Tripping in the street is really embarrassing.
- 美咲 Misaki大丈夫？あまり気にしないで。Daijoubu? Amari ki ni shinaide.Are you okay? Don't worry too much about it.
- 健太 Kentaみんなが見てたから、恥ずかしいんだ。Minna ga miteta kara, hazukashii n da.Everyone was watching, so it's embarrassing.
- 美咲 Misakiそんなことないよ、健太君。Sonna koto nai yo, Kenta-kun.That's not true, Kenta.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “embarrassing” translations and entries 恥ずかしい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
