尴 (gān) - Embarrassed & awkward

尴Tone 1

gān ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

尴 · gān

Embarrassed;

awkward;

uncomfortable;

in a difficult situation.

Embarrassedawkwarduncomfortable

Usage highlights

Awkward situationFeel embarrassedAwkward expressionAwkward momentAwkward atmosphereExtremely awkward

Synonyms

  • 窘— embarrassed; awkward
  • 难堪— embarrassed; mortified

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He felt very awkward (尴尬).
  • The situation was extremely embarrassing (尴尬的局面).
  • She was in an awkward predicament (处境尴尬).
  • An awkward silence fell over the room (尴尬的沉默).

Collocations

  • Awkward situation(尴尬的处境)
  • Feel embarrassed(感到尴尬)
  • Awkward expression(尴尬的表情)
  • Awkward moment(尴尬的时刻)
  • Awkward atmosphere(尴尬的气氛)
  • Extremely awkward(十分尴尬)

Idioms

  • To be in an awkward position(不尴不尬)
  • An awkward and embarrassing situation(尴尬无地)
  • To be caught in an embarrassing predicament(进退尴尬)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 尴 is almost exclusively used in the compound word 尴尬 (gāngà), which describes a state of social discomfort or unease.
  • In Chinese social culture, maintaining 'face' (面子) is important, and situations described as 尴尬 are those that cause a loss of face or social discomfort.
  • The character's structure with the '尢' component often relates to lameness or abnormality, metaphorically extending to social awkwardness.

FAQ