naan4 wai4 cing4難為情难为情

Jyutpingnaan4 wai4 cing4

Yalenàahn wàih chìhng

形容詞Uncommon

Definition

Embarrassed, abashed, or self-conscious.

colloquialemotiondescriptions

How it's used

难为情 carries a slightly more formal or literary nuance compared to the everyday, punchy 瘀. While 瘀 is often used to describe the feeling of losing face or being humiliated in a social situation, 难为情 leans more towards a sense of shyness or being put on the spot. It is frequently used when someone feels awkward due to an unexpected compliment or an uncomfortable public situation.

Examples

keoi5佢喺hai2咁gam3多do1人jan4面min2前cin4跌dit3親，can1真zan1係hai6好hou2難naan4為wai4情。

He fell down in front of so many people and felt really embarrassed.

nei5你zou6做me1咩gong2講ni1呢di1啲je5嘢？gaau2搞dou3到jan4人dei6哋hou2好naan4難wai4為cing4情aa4呀。

Why are you saying these things? You are making the other person feel so embarrassed.

Common phrases

gok3覺dak1得naan4難wai4為cing4情

to feel embarrassed

hou2好naan4難wai4為cing4情

very embarrassed

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 唔好意思, but 唔好意思 is much broader and functions as a polite apology or a way to excuse oneself. Using 难为情 to apologize for bumping into someone would sound unnatural and overly dramatic.