尴

尷
gān
尢 + 监

Definitions

gān (adjective) embarrassed; ill at ease

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 尢 represents the meaning and 监 represents the sound. Simplified form of 尷.

Semantic: 尢 Phonetic: 监

About

The simplified character 尴 (traditional 尷) is a phonosemantic compound: 尢, a pictograph of a lame or crooked leg, suggests difficulty walking or an unnatural posture, while 监 indicates the sound. Almost always used with 尬, the binome 尴尬 originally described an unsteady, stumbling gait before shifting metaphorically to psychological unease. It now conveys an awkward predicament, acute social embarrassment, or any uncomfortable situation that leaves one feeling off-balance and at a loss.

Example Sentences Hide

他感到非常尴尬。

Tā gǎndào fēicháng gāngà.

He feels very awkward.

这场面让人尴尬。

Zhè chǎngmiàn ràng rén gāngà.

This scene makes people feel awkward.

我在会议上说错了话，很尴尬。

Wǒ zài huìyì shàng shuō cuòle huà, hěn gāngà.

I said the wrong thing at the meeting, which was very awkward.

他们之间的对话有点尴尬。

Tāmen zhī jiān de duìhuà yǒudiǎn gāngà.

The conversation between them is a bit awkward.

尴尬的气氛持续了整整十分钟。

Gāngà de qìfēn chíxùle zhěngzhěng shí fēnzhōng.

The awkward atmosphere lasted for a full ten minutes.

因为忘记他的名字，我陷入了尴尬的境地。

Yīnwèi wàngjì tā de míngzì, wǒ xiànrùle gāngà de jìngdì.

Because I forgot his name, I fell into an awkward situation.

面对这种尴尬的局面，他不知如何是好。

Miànduì zhè zhǒng gāngà de júmiàn, tā bù zhī rúhé shì hǎo.

Facing this kind of awkward situation, he didn't know what to do.

尽管他试图用幽默化解尴尬，但效果并不理想。

Jǐnguǎn tā shìtú yòng yōumò huàjiě gāngà, dàn xiàoguǒ bìng bù lǐxiǎng.

Although he tried to use humor to resolve the awkwardness, the effect was not ideal.

Related Characters

Component: 尢

无 尤 尬 尥 尢 尪 尰 尲 尷

Component: 监

蓝 滥 篮 槛 褴 㨫

Example Words

尴尬