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.
罪悪感(ざいあくかん)を感(かん)じている。
I feel 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.
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.
約束(やくそく)を破(やぶ)ったことに対(たい)する罪悪感(ざいあくかん)が消(き)えない。
I can't shake the guilt over breaking my promise.

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:

Related Words

Related: 後悔(こうかい) (regret)
Contrast: 羞恥心(しゅうちしん) (shame)
core
Added 2026.1.17 2:25 · Revised 2026.6.16 15:42
05500/05951_zaiakukan