noun
Awareness of oneself as an individual, often with a nuance of being overly aware of how one appears to others.
思春期には自己意識が強くなる。
Self-consciousness becomes stronger during adolescence.
彼は自己意識が高く、人前で話すのを嫌がる。
He is highly self-conscious and dislikes speaking in public.
Compound of 自己 (self) and 意識 (consciousness).