Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
尴尬(尷尬)gāngà(gan1ga4)
尴尬 (gān gà) describes a feeling of awkwardness or embarrassment in social situations. It is often used to express discomfort when one is faced with a challenging or uncomfortable scenario, such as an embarrassing mistake or an unanticipated social faux pas.
Frequency#2019DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, maintaining harmony in social interactions is crucial; thus, the concept of feeling 尴尬 is particularly relevant during gatherings where social faux pas can disrupt the flow and create discomfort among attendees.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'gan' (like 'gun') that makes you feel 'gaga' (crazy) when you realize you've accidentally insulted someone at a party. The two parts of the character, 尴 and 尬, can be visualized as two people awkwardly standing apart, avoiding eye contact.
Meanings of 尴尬
gāngà(gan1ga4)
1awkward
2embarrassed
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 尴尬
尴尬Simplified
尷尬Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2019Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 尴尬
Podcast: 尴尬
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 尴尬
Quick Contrast
尴尬 (awkward) vs 不好意思 (embarrassed) — use 尴尬 for situations of social awkwardness, while 不好意思 is more about feeling shy or apologetic.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'gan' (like 'gun') that makes you feel 'gaga' (crazy) when you realize you've accidentally insulted someone at a party. The two parts of the character, 尴 and 尬, can be visualized as two people awkwardly standing apart, avoiding eye contact.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 尴尬 with other emotional descriptors like 难过 (nán guò, sad) or 不安 (bù ān, uneasy). It is typically used in informal contexts, but can also appear in formal discussions about social behavior. Be mindful of tone; the first syllable is high-level, while the second falls.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 尴尬 is important for discussing complex social interactions. Students should focus on using it in various contexts, such as conversations about personal experiences or when discussing social etiquette in different situations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, maintaining harmony in social interactions is crucial; thus, the concept of feeling 尴尬 is particularly relevant during gatherings where social faux pas can disrupt the flow and create discomfort among attendees.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes misuse 尴尬 in contexts that require more intense emotions, such as sadness. For example, saying '我觉得很尴尬' (wǒ juéde hěn gān gà) meaning 'I feel very embarrassed' is correct, but they might confuse it with sadness and say '我觉得很难过' (wǒ juéde hěn nán guò) which is incorrect in an awkward situation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 尴尬
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 尴尬 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 尴尬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 尴尬
尴尬 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
I wanted to spare Frances the embarrassment of discussing this subject.
9
如果我把谁弄哭了，我会尴尬的。
rú guǒ wǒ bǎ shuí nòng kū le， ， wǒ huì gān gà。
If I reduced somebody to tears I'd be mortified.
10
在一场尴尬的新闻发布会上，金先生回避了有关指控的问题。
zài yī cháng gān gà de xīn wén fā bù huì shàng， ， jīn xiān shēng huí bì le yǒu guān zhǐ kòng de wèn。
In an awkward press conference, Mr King parried questions on the allegations.
Cultural Notes for 尴尬
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, maintaining harmony in social interactions is crucial; thus, the concept of feeling 尴尬 is particularly relevant during gatherings where social faux pas can disrupt the flow and create discomfort among attendees.
Frequently Asked Questions about 尴尬
Yes, it can be used to describe awkward situations in the workplace, such as forgetting a colleague's name during a meeting.
Yes, you can use 拘束 (jū shù) which also conveys a sense of being restrained or uncomfortable in a social setting.
You might say 我有点尴尬 (wǒ yǒu diǎn gān gà), which means 'I feel a bit awkward,' to express a less intense feeling.
