1.
sense of guilt, feeling of indebtedness, feeling of owing
A persistent feeling of guilt or moral debt toward someone, often because one feels they have done something wrong or have not done enough. Implies an emotional burden that weighs on the conscience.
Usage
負い目 is most commonly used with を感じる (to feel) or がある (to have). It describes an internal emotional state — not a financial debt, but a moral or emotional one. People with 負い目 often feel they cannot assert themselves or refuse requests from the person they feel indebted to.
Common collocations
- 負い目を感じる: to feel a sense of guilt
- 負い目がある: to have a sense of indebtedness
- 負い目を持つ: to carry a sense of guilt
- 負い目なく: without guilt
Similar words
罪悪感 (guilt, guilty conscience) is stronger and implies wrongdoing. 負い目 is softer — it can arise simply from receiving help or having an advantage, not necessarily from doing something wrong.
Related Words
Compare:
罪悪感 (guilt (stronger))