怩

shame

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Readings

On'yomi

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

怩 centers on the feeling of shame or embarrassment, often from a personal failing or exposure.

Most common words using 怩

忸怩じくじ
bashful; shameful; ashamed
内心忸怩ないしんじくじ
ashamed deep down in one's heart; blushing with shame when one remembers something
忸怩たる思いじくじたるおもい
feelings of strong embarrassment (over one's own actions)

Explore all words using 怩 →

Study

Etymology

怩 combines the heart radical 忄 with 尼, which likely provides the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the heart component suggests an emotional state like shame.

Meaning mnemonic

The heart radical 忄 next to 尼 suggests a heart weighed down by shame, as if a nun (尼) is feeling embarrassed.

Reading mnemonic

For ジ, imagine a person feeling shame when they mispronounce 'G' as 'ジ' in front of a nun: the 'G' sound cues ジ, and the embarrassment ties to the meaning.