Meanings of 尷
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About 尷
Podcast: 尷
Podcast: 尷
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AI Study Notes for 尷
尷尬 (gān gà, awkward) — use 尷 (gān) when referring specifically to a feeling of embarrassment rather than the broader sense of awkwardness conveyed by 尷尬.
Learners often confuse 尷 with similar emotions like 'shy' or 'nervous,' but 尷 specifically conveys a sense of embarrassment. It is more common in informal contexts, but can also appear in slightly formal discussions about social behavior. Be mindful of the tone; the third tone of 尷 can be tricky.
Although 尷 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial for students at HSK 4 and above to understand this term due to its relevance in conversational Mandarin. Focus on using it in appropriate social contexts to express feelings.
Learners sometimes mix up 尷 with 尴尬 (gān'gà), which is more commonly used in everyday speech. For instance, saying '我觉得很尷' instead of '我觉得很尴尬' can sound unnatural. Stick to 尴尬 for most situations.
Pronunciation of 尷
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Etymology of 尷
Phonosemantic compound. 尢 represents the meaning and 监 represents the sound. Simplified form of 尷.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 尷
Phonosemantic compound. 尢 represents the meaning and 监 represents the sound. Simplified form of 尷.
- 1The meaning half尢 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half監 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaylame
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 尷? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 尷
Identify the Components
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How to say embarrassed; ill-at-ease in Chinese
“embarrassed; ill-at-ease” in Chinese is尷
The character 尷 (gān) means 'embarrassed' or 'ill-at-ease.' It is commonly used to describe a feeling of discomfort or awkwardness in social situations, such as when one feels out of place or ashamed. This term often appears in expressions discussing social interactions and emotional responses.
When to use 尷
Learners often confuse 尷 with similar emotions like 'shy' or 'nervous,' but 尷 specifically conveys a sense of embarrassment. It is more common in informal contexts, but can also appear in slightly formal discussions about social behavior. Be mindful of the tone; the third tone of 尷 can be tricky.
尷 or something close to it
尷尬 (gān gà, awkward) — use 尷 (gān) when referring specifically to a feeling of embarrassment rather than the broader sense of awkwardness conveyed by 尷尬.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes mix up 尷 with 尴尬 (gān'gà), which is more commonly used in everyday speech. For instance, saying '我觉得很尷' instead of '我觉得很尴尬' can sound unnatural. Stick to 尴尬 for most situations.
Write 尷
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Practice writing 尷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 尷
Compound Meaning
What does 尴尬 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 尷
You can say '我觉得很尷尬' (wǒ juédé hěn gān'gà), which means 'I feel very embarrassed.'
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