About
As a phono-semantic compound, 尬 uses the radical 尢, which relates to a lame or weak leg, to convey the core meaning of unsteady movement. The component 介 provides the phonetic element. Like its pair 尴, the character originally depicted a physical limp or stagger. This concrete sense of stumbling evolved into a metaphor for psychological and social unease, specifically denoting the intense embarrassment and awkwardness of being in an impossible or compromising situation.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他感到非常尴尬。
场面一度很尴尬。
因为说错话，他很尴尬。
别让气氛变得尴尬。
她的笑容掩盖了尴尬。
如果你迟到，会有点尴尬。
尽管他试图化解尴尬，但大家还是沉默不语。
这种尬聊让对方不知如何回应。