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気がとがめる (きがとがめる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
feel guilty ; have a guilty conscience
Describes a nagging sense of guilt or unease about one's own actions, often for something relatively minor. The subject is typically the person who feels guilty, and the expression is used in the form 気がとがめる.
の
に
、
なぜ
か
気き
が
とがめ
た
。
Even though he hadn't done anything wrong, he somehow felt guilty.
Written forms 気き がとがめる
Standard mixed kanji-kana spelling; the verb とがめる is usually written in kana in this expression.
気き が 咎とが める
Kanji spelling for とがめる; less common but still used, especially in formal or literary contexts.
Kanji 咎 blame, censure, reprimand Similar words 後うし ろめたい 後ろめたい is an adjective describing a state of feeling guilty or having a bad conscience, often with a nuance of being unable to face others. 気がとがめる is a verbal expression focusing on the active feeling of guilt or unease arising from a specific action.
良りょう 心しん がとがめる 良心がとがめる is a similar expression meaning 'one's conscience pricks one,' but it explicitly mentions 良心 (conscience) and can sound slightly more formal or serious. 気がとがめる is more colloquial and common for everyday guilt.
Etymology The expression combines 気 (mind, spirit) with とがめる (to blame, to find fault). Literally, it means 'one's mind blames (oneself),' conveying a sense of self-reproach or guilt. The verb とがめる is of native Japanese origin.
