How to say "embarrassing" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 恥ずかしいはずかしいi-adjectiveThe default word: covers both a situation that is embarrassing and the feeling of being embarrassed or ashamed — blushing, wanting to hide, regretting something you did.
- 痛いいたいi-adjectiveColloquial and literally 'painful': the cringy kind of embarrassing, often secondhand — someone's remark or behavior makes you wince rather than leaving you personally ashamed.
- i-adjectiveLiterally 'ticklish'; a marginal match for 'embarrassing'. Use it only for a mild, ticklish awkwardness at being praised or fussed over; for most embarrassing situations 恥ずかしい is the word you want.
Use 「恥ずかしい」 for embarrassment or shame in general; 「痛い」, colloquial, for cringy moments that make you wince, often someone else's behavior; 「くすぐったい」 only for a mild, ticklish embarrassment at being praised or fussed over.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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