罪悪感(ざいあくかん)

ざいあくかん
noun
sense of guilt; guilt
1. sense of guilt; guilty conscience
The feeling of guilt or remorse one experiences after doing something wrong or perceived as wrong.
嘘(うそ)をついた罪悪感(ざいあくかん)に苛(さいな)まれている。
I'm tormented by guilt for having lied.
罪悪感(ざいあくかん)なく休暇(きゅうか)を楽(たの)しめない。
I can't enjoy my vacation without feeling guilty.
罪悪感(ざいあくかん)を感(かん)じる必要(ひつよう)はない。
There's no need to feel guilty.

FORMATION:
罪悪(ざいあく) (sin; wrongdoing) + 感(かん) (feeling)

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 罪悪感(ざいあくかん)を感(かん)じる: to feel guilty
  • 罪悪感(ざいあくかん)に苛(さいな)まれる: to be tormented by guilt
  • 罪悪感(ざいあくかん)がある: to have feelings of guilt
  • 罪悪感(ざいあくかん)なく: without guilt

PSYCHOLOGICAL USAGE:
In psychology, 罪悪感(ざいあくかん) is distinguished from 羞恥心(しゅうちしん) (shame) - guilt focuses on actions while shame focuses on self-image.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 後悔(こうかい): regret
  • 良心(りょうしん)の呵責(かしゃく): pangs of conscience

Related Words

Related: 後悔(こうかい) (regret)
core
Added 2026.1.17 2:25 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
05500/05951_zaiakukan