尬

gà

介 + 尢

Definitions

gà (adjective) embarrassing; awkward

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 尢 represents the meaning and 介 represents the sound.

Semantic: 尢 Phonetic: 介

About

尬 is a phonosemantic compound: the radical 尢, representing a lame or weak leg, provides the semantic category of unsteady movement, while the right-side component 介 functions as the phonetic indicator. Together with its inseparable counterpart 尴, forming the compound 尴尬, the character initially denoted a limping or staggering gait. This literal physical stumbling later shifted entirely into a metaphor for psychological and social awkwardness, and now exclusively conveys the intense embarrassment and agonizing discomfort of being stuck in an unresolvable or compromising situation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他感到非常尴尬。

Tā gǎndào fēicháng gāngà.

He feels very embarrassed.

场面一度很尴尬。

Chǎngmiàn yídù hěn gāngà.

The situation was awkward for a moment.

因为说错话，他很尴尬。

Yīnwèi shuō cuò huà, tā hěn gāngà.

Because he said the wrong thing, he was embarrassed.

别让气氛变得尴尬。

Bié ràng qìfēn biàn de gāngà.

Don't let the atmosphere become awkward.

她的笑容掩盖了尴尬。

Tā de xiàoróng yǎngài le gāngà.

Her smile covered up the embarrassment.

如果你迟到，会有点尴尬。

Rúguǒ nǐ chídào, huì yǒudiǎn gāngà.

If you are late, it will be a bit awkward.

尽管他试图化解尴尬，但大家还是沉默不语。

Jǐnguǎn tā shìtú huàjiě gāngà, dàn dàjiā háishì chénmò bùyǔ.

Although he tried to dissolve the awkwardness, everyone remained silent.

这种尬聊让对方不知如何回应。

Zhè zhǒng gà liáo ràng duìfāng bù zhī rúhé huíyìng.

This kind of awkward chat made the other party not know how to respond.

Related Characters

Component: 介

Component: 尢

尬