Translation guide
The feeling of having done wrong or being responsible for a bad action. In Japanese, expressing guilt involves specific nouns, adjectives, and phrases that convey remorse, responsibility, or a guilty conscience.
Expressing the internal feeling of guilt or remorse for something one has done.
The most direct and common word for 'feeling of guilt' or 'guilty conscience'. Used in both casual and formal contexts.
He is tormented by guilt.
I feel guilty.
An adjective meaning 'to feel guilty' or 'to have a guilty conscience', often implying a sense of unease or fear of being found out.
I feel guilty about lying to him.
An adjective meaning 'to feel guilty' or 'to have a guilty conscience', often used in the phrase やましいことがある (to have something to feel guilty about).
I have nothing to feel guilty about.
A formal phrase meaning 'pangs of conscience' or 'remorse'. Used in serious or literary contexts.
He couldn't bear the pangs of conscience.
Expressing that someone is guilty of a crime or responsible for a bad action.
The legal term for 'guilt' as opposed to innocence. Used in court contexts.
The defendant was found guilty.
A general word for 'crime', 'sin', or 'guilt'. Can refer to both legal and moral guilt.
A common phrase meaning 'to be responsible' or 'to bear the blame'. Often used when guilt is about accountability rather than internal feeling.
Expressing the act of making someone feel guilty or inducing guilt.
Literally 'to stir up feelings of guilt'. Used when someone intentionally makes another person feel guilty.
She is trying to guilt-trip me.
To make someone feel guilty or uneasy. A more indirect expression.
罪悪感 is a noun for the feeling of guilt and is neutral in register. 後ろめたい and やましい are adjectives describing a guilty conscience, often with a nuance of secrecy or fear of exposure. 後ろめたい implies a lingering unease, while やましい is often used in negative constructions like やましいことはない (I have nothing to hide/feel guilty about).
While 罪悪感を感じる is correct, it can sound stiff in casual conversation. More natural spoken alternatives include 後ろめたい, やましい, or rephrasing with 悪いと思っている (I feel bad about it).
He admitted his guilt.
I am to blame for this accident.
His words made me feel guilty.