Translation guide
Expressing a strong feeling of shame, humiliation, or mortification in Japanese. The most natural ways range from common phrases like 恥ずかしい to more intense expressions like 穴があったら入りたい.
To express a personal, internal feeling of strong embarrassment or shame, often in social situations.
The most common and versatile adjective for 'embarrassed' or 'ashamed'. Can be used for mild to strong embarrassment.
みんなの前で転んで、すごく恥ずかしかった。
I tripped in front of everyone and was deeply embarrassed.
Emphasizes that the embarrassment is unbearable. Literally 'so embarrassed I can't stand it'.
失敗して、恥ずかしくてたまらなかった。
I made a mistake and was so embarrassed I couldn't stand it.
Idiomatic expression meaning 'I wish I could sink through the floor' or 'I want to crawl into a hole'. Used for intense embarrassment.
あんなことを言ってしまって、穴があったら入りたい気分だ。
I said such a thing, I feel like I want to crawl into a hole.
Literally 'red face', a more formal or literary term for blushing from embarrassment. Often used in writing.
彼は赤面してうつむいた。
He blushed deeply and looked down.
To describe a situation or action that makes someone else feel deeply embarrassed or humiliated.
To cause someone to lose face or be embarrassed. Often used when someone is publicly humiliated.
彼はみんなの前で私に恥をかかせた。
He embarrassed me deeply in front of everyone.
To humiliate or disgrace someone. Stronger and more formal than 恥をかかせる.
彼は公の場で私を辱めた。
He humiliated me in public.
To express a very strong, often lasting sense of shame or mortification, beyond simple embarrassment.
Describes something that is humiliating or mortifying. Often used for situations that damage one's pride.
それは屈辱的な経験だった。
It was a deeply humiliating experience.
A formal or literary term for shame or bashfulness. Often used in psychological or academic contexts.
恥ずかしい is the everyday word for embarrassment, from mild to strong. 屈辱的 implies a deeper wound to one's pride or dignity, often from being treated unfairly or publicly shamed.
人前で話すのは恥ずかしい。
Speaking in public is embarrassing.
彼に嘘つき呼ばわりされて屈辱的だった。
Being called a liar by him was humiliating.
Avoid directly translating 'deep embarrassment' as 深い恥ずかしさ. While grammatically possible, it sounds unnatural. Use the phrases above instead.
自分の間違いに気づいて、穴があったら入りたい気持ちだった。
I felt deep embarrassment when I realized my mistake.
I couldn't lift my face from deep shame.