尴尬
To be embarrassed
Littéralement: Limping / Uneven + To walk or act
Use `gāngà` whenever a social situation feels uncomfortable, cringey, or makes you want to hide.
En 15 secondes
- Used for socially awkward or 'cringe' situations.
- Describes both people's feelings and the atmosphere.
- Essential for discussing social blunders and 'face' moments.
Signification
It describes that cringey, awkward feeling when things get weird or uncomfortable. It is that 'I want to disappear' sensation when you make a mistake in public.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Waving at a stranger by mistake
我认错人了，真尴尬。
I recognized the wrong person, so awkward.
A meeting where no one speaks
会议室里一片尴尬的沉默。
There was an awkward silence in the meeting room.
Texting a friend about a bad date
昨晚的约会太尴尬了。
Last night's date was so awkward.
Contexte culturel
The term has deep roots but exploded in modern usage with internet culture. It is closely tied to the concept of 'Face' (Mianzi), representing the moment when one's social image is momentarily compromised. In modern China, 'Gāngà' is often used humorously to self-deprecate and lower social pressure.
The 'Sweat' Emoji
In China, the 'grinning face with sweat' emoji is the universal digital sign for `gāngà`. Use it when you make a typo!
Don't confuse with 'Shy'
Being shy is `hàixiū`. `Gāngà` is specifically for when something goes wrong socially. You can be a confident person and still feel `gāngà`.
En 15 secondes
- Used for socially awkward or 'cringe' situations.
- Describes both people's feelings and the atmosphere.
- Essential for discussing social blunders and 'face' moments.
What It Means
Gāngà is the ultimate word for awkwardness. It is more than just feeling shy. It is that specific social friction you feel. Imagine waving at someone who wasn't looking at you. Or laughing at a joke you didn't actually understand. That heavy, itchy silence in the air? That is gāngà.
How To Use It
You use it as an adjective. You can say a person is gāngà. You can also say a situation is gāngà. It often follows words like hěn (very) or zhēn (really). If you want to sound natural, use it to describe silences. Use it when you realize you have food in your teeth. It is a very flexible word for social mishaps.
When To Use It
Use it when you forget someone’s name mid-conversation. Use it at a restaurant if your card gets declined. It is perfect for texting friends about a bad first date. If you walk into the wrong restroom, this is your word. It works in almost any social setting where things feel 'off.'
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for serious tragedies. If someone loses their job, it is not gāngà. That is sad or serious. Do not use it for physical pain. If you stub your toe, you are in pain, not awkward. It is strictly for social discomfort and 'cringe' moments. Keep it light and social.
Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, 'saving face' is a big deal. Gāngà is the opposite of having face. It means the social harmony has been broken. People might laugh nervously when they feel gāngà. This is a defense mechanism to ease the tension. Understanding this helps you navigate Chinese social circles smoothly.
Common Variations
You will often hear hǎo gāngà (so awkward). On the internet, people use the 'sweat drop' emoji to represent this. Some people say gāngà á to emphasize the cringe. It is a staple of modern Chinese internet slang and daily life. You will hear it in every TV drama ever made.
Notes d'usage
It is a neutral-register word suitable for almost all social situations. Be careful not to use it for deep emotional pain or serious accidents.
The 'Sweat' Emoji
In China, the 'grinning face with sweat' emoji is the universal digital sign for `gāngà`. Use it when you make a typo!
Don't confuse with 'Shy'
Being shy is `hàixiū`. `Gāngà` is specifically for when something goes wrong socially. You can be a confident person and still feel `gāngà`.
The Nervous Laugh
If a Chinese person laughs after you make a mistake, they aren't mocking you. They are likely feeling `gāngà` on your behalf and trying to break the tension.
Exemples
6我认错人了，真尴尬。
I recognized the wrong person, so awkward.
A classic everyday use of the phrase.
会议室里一片尴尬的沉默。
There was an awkward silence in the meeting room.
Describes the atmosphere rather than a person.
昨晚的约会太尴尬了。
Last night's date was so awkward.
Very common in informal storytelling.
他的裤子拉链没拉，好尴尬啊！
His zipper was down, how embarrassing!
Used for a humorous but cringey realization.
我忘了客户的名字，气氛很尴尬。
I forgot the client's name; the atmosphere was very awkward.
Appropriate for formal social blunders.
大家都看着我，我觉得很尴尬。
Everyone was staring at me; I felt very embarrassed.
Used when unwanted attention causes discomfort.
Teste-toi
Choose the best word to describe a situation where you said 'Hi' to someone who wasn't talking to you.
没有人理我，我觉得很 ___。
If no one responds to you, it creates a social discomfort known as `gāngà`.
Complete the sentence to describe an awkward silence.
他们都不说话，气氛真 ___。
Silence in a social setting is the most common time to use `gāngà` to describe the 'atmosphere' (qìfēn).
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of Gāngà
Used as 'cringe' on social media.
Gāngà le.
Daily conversation with friends or coworkers.
Hěn gāngà.
Describing diplomatic or business tensions.
Chǔjìng gāngà.
When to say Gāngà
Wrong Name
Calling your boss by your ex's name.
Public Mistake
Tripping on a flat surface while people watch.
Bad Joke
Telling a joke and nobody laughs.
Staring
Realizing you've been staring at a stranger.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt means embarrassed or awkward. It is used when a situation is socially uncomfortable, like zhēn gāngà (really awkward).
Yes, you can say wǒ hěn gāngà to mean 'I feel awkward.' It describes your internal state.
Absolutely. You can say zhè jiàn shì hěn gāngà to mean 'this matter is very embarrassing.'
Yes, it is a neutral word. If you make a mistake at work, saying gāngà is a normal way to acknowledge the slip-up.
You can say hǎo gāngà or fēicháng gāngà. Both are very common in daily speech.
Hàixiū means shy or bashful (like a kid meeting a stranger). Gāngà is for social blunders or awkwardness.
On the internet, people sometimes just type 'GG' or use the sweat emoji, but gāngà itself is used constantly online.
Not exactly. 'Shameful' is much stronger (diūliǎn). Gāngà is lighter and more about social friction than moral failing.
Yes, in formal Chinese, chǔjìng gāngà means being in an awkward or difficult position where no choice is good.
In China, people often use a self-deprecating joke or a small laugh to move past the gāngà moment.
Expressions liées
丢脸
To lose face / To be disgraced
害羞
Shy / Bashful
难堪
Hard to endure / Embarrassed (more intense)
社死
Social death (slang for extreme embarrassment)
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