ashamed vs. embarrassed

Preview　（腕試し）

Which of the following sentences are natural?

（次の文章の中では、どれが自然でしょうか？　チェックボックスも利用できます。）

1. Dominic was ashamed when he dropped his pencil in class.

2. I always feel embarrassed when I trip.

3. The old man felt very ashamed when he was caught shoplifting.

4. Spilling your drink is always embarrassing, isn't it?

5. Kelly said he was ashamed when he forgot his new student's name.

A. 1, 2 & 4

B. 2, 3 & 4

C. all

D. none

　

Quick Glossary （用語辞典）

adjective = 形容詞

guilty (feeling) = やましい

shameful = 恥ずべき

cheat = だます

Explanation （説明）

Ashamed is often used as a translation of the Japanese adjective hazukashii. The problem is that ashamed often indicates a very deep level of embarrassment, guilt, or shame that may not be natural in some situations. We usually use ashamed when we feel we have done something wrong.

I dropped my bag of groceries on the train. I was very embarrassed. (But I wasn't ashamed!)

　

A person feels ashamed if she or he has done something shameful--that person feels guilt and regret.

Mr. Peters was caught stealing supplies from his office. He was very ashamed. (He felt shame.)

Asuka felt very ashamed when she realized how harmful it was to say bad things about her co-workers.

　

Grammar Note

The verb embarrass can be used as an adjective using "ed" and "ing." Note that the usage of these adjectives is different.

I was embarrassed when I spilled my beer. It was very embarrassing because everyone in the restaurant looked at me.

This isn't the same for ashamed. If you want to describe the situation, you can use the adjective shameful.

His behavior at the party was really shameful, but he doesn't feel ashamed because he doesn't remember it!

Exercises（練習） Would you feel ashamed or embarrassed in these situations?

1. You go to karaoke with your friends, get a little too drunk, and try to sing like you're Frank Sinatra. The next morning you feel embarrassed ashamed .

2. You burp during lunch. You feel embarrassed ashamed .

3. If you get caught telling a lie, you might feel embarrassed ashamed .

4. You fall down while walking up the stairs in Umeda. Perhaps you feel embarrassed ashamed .

5. In the supermarket checkout line you realize you left your wallet in your car. You feel embarrassed ashamed .

6. You yelled at your wife or husband for changing the TV channel. Later you felt embarrassed ashamed of yourself.

7. Your friend catches you cheating at Monopoly (a board game). You feel embarrassed ashamed .

8. I wonder if the President was embarrassed ashamed when he was forced to resign?

9. The new employee was embarrassed ashamed when his boss caught him stealing office supplies.

10. Dropping the phone while talking to someone can be a little embarrassing shameful , can't it?

　

Answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Note: Everyone has different feelings in different situations, so there is not really one correct answer for each sentence. Your own feelings may be different!