恥(は)ずかしい

はずかしい
adjective (i-adjective)
embarrassed, shy
1. embarrassed, ashamed
Feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable due to a situation. Can describe both the feeling of embarrassment and situations that cause it.
恥(は)ずかしかった。
I was embarrassed.
間違(まちが)えて恥(は)ずかしい。
I made a mistake and I'm embarrassed.
顔(かお)が赤(あか)くなって恥(は)ずかしかったです。
My face turned red and I was embarrassed.
電車(でんしゃ)の中(なか)で転(ころ)んで、とても恥(は)ずかしかったです。
I fell in the train and was very embarrassed.
先生(せんせい)に名前(なまえ)を呼(よ)ばれたとき、答(こた)えが分(わ)からなくて恥(は)ずかしかったです。
When the teacher called my name, I didn't know the answer and was embarrassed.
2. shy
Feeling reluctant to do something in front of others due to self-consciousness.
歌(うた)うのは恥(は)ずかしい。
I'm shy about singing.
恥(は)ずかしいから言(い)えません。
I can't say it because I'm embarrassed.
みんなの前(まえ)で話(はな)すのは恥(は)ずかしいです。
Speaking in front of everyone is embarrassing.
初(はじ)めて会(あ)う人(ひと)の前(まえ)では、恥(は)ずかしくて話(はな)せません。
I'm too shy to talk in front of people I'm meeting for the first time.
日本語(にほんご)がまだ上手(じょうず)じゃないから、日本人(にほんじん)と話(はな)すのは恥(は)ずかしいです。でも勉強(べんきょう)を続(つづ)けます。
Since my Japanese isn't good yet, I'm shy about talking with Japanese people. But I'll keep studying.

恥(は)ずかしい is an i-adjective meaning 'embarrassed,' 'ashamed,' or 'shy.'

FORMS:

  • Adverbial: 恥(は)ずかしく
  • Noun form: 恥(は)ずかしさ (embarrassment)
  • Te-form: 恥(は)ずかしくて

USAGE NOTE:

Like many Japanese feeling adjectives, 恥(は)ずかしい can describe:

  • The person feeling embarrassed: 恥(は)ずかしかった (I was embarrassed)
  • The situation causing embarrassment: それは恥(は)ずかしい (That's embarrassing)

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 〜するのは恥(は)ずかしい: It's embarrassing to do ~
  • 恥(は)ずかしくて〜できない: Too embarrassed to ~
  • 恥(は)ずかしがる: to act shy, to be bashful

RELATED EXPRESSIONS:

  • 恥(はじ): shame (noun)
  • 恥(はじ)をかく: to be shamed/embarrassed
  • 恥(は)ずかしがり屋(や): shy person
core
Added 2026.1.7 21:23 · Revised 2026.2.19 10:55
00500/00843_hazukashii