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引け目 (ひけめ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
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He feels inferior about his educational background.
When you have a sense of inferiority, it's hard to strike up a conversation yourself.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 に 引ひ け 目め を 感かん じる to feel inferior to someone
He felt inferior to his talented older brother.
〈 事こと 〉 に 引ひ け 目め がある to have a weak point or feel at a disadvantage regarding something
He feels at a disadvantage about his educational background and can't speak up easily.
引ひ け 目め を 覚おぼ える to sense a feeling of inferiority (more literary than 感じる)
In front of his colleagues, he felt a slight sense of inferiority.
引ひ け 目め を 持も つ to carry a lasting sense of inferiority
Expressions 引ひ け 目め を 感かん じる feel inferior; feel small; feel self-conscious Related words 劣等感 is a more clinical, psychological term for an inferiority complex, while 引け目 describes an everyday feeling of being at a disadvantage or having a specific weak point.
コンプレックス is a broader, casual loanword for any personal hang-up or complex, whereas 引け目 specifically points to feeling worse than others in a particular comparison.
気後れ describes momentary hesitation or timidity in front of someone, while 引け目 is a lasting sense of being inferior or at a disadvantage compared to another.
引け目 is a feeling of inferiority or being at a disadvantage compared to others, while 負い目 specifically refers to guilt from owing someone something.
Written forms 引ひ け 目め Usage 73%
Standard kanji spelling; high priority.
ひけ 目め Usage 16%
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.
ひけめ Usage 9%
ヒケメ Usage 2%
Etymology Compound of 引け (hike, the continuative form of 引く 'to pull back, withdraw') and 目 (me 'eye, point'). Literally 'a point of retreat', suggesting a perceived weakness or disadvantage.
She carried a sense of inferiority about her family background.
