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March 24, 2026
尴(尷)gān(gan1)
The character 尴 (gān) conveys feelings of embarrassment or awkwardness. It is often used in social contexts where someone feels uncomfortable or ill at ease, such as making a mistake in front of others or being in an embarrassing situation.
Strokes13Radical尢Frequency#94586DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The feeling of embarrassment is significant in Chinese culture, where saving face is important. Situations that cause 尴 can lead to social discomfort, making it essential to navigate interpersonal interactions carefully.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person at a party trying to fit in but accidentally spilling a drink. The character 尴 can be visualized as someone 'gān' (embarrassed) trying to clean up the mess, representing their awkwardness. The left side looks like a person, while the right side can remind you of a 'difficult' situation.
Meanings of 尴
gān(gan1)
1embarrassed
2ill at ease
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 尴
尴Simplified
尷Traditional
13Strokes
尢Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 尴
Podcast: 尴
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AI Study Notes for 尴
Quick Contrast
尴 (gān) vs 忌 (jì) — use 尴 for social embarrassment, while 忌 refers to being taboo or having a dislike.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 尴 (gān) with similar-sounding words; it specifically relates to embarrassment and is often used in informal contexts. Common collocations include 尴尬 (gāngà), which means 'awkward.' Remember to use the correct tone to convey the feeling accurately.
HSK Study Tips
Though 尴 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for intermediate learners working on social interactions. Focus on using it in sentences about personal experiences to internalize its meaning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 尴 with similar characters like 感 (gǎn), which means 'feel.' An incorrect sentence might be '我感尴尬' ('I feel embarrassed'), which should be corrected to '我觉得尴尬' ('I feel embarrassed').
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 尴
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How Well Do You Know 尴?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 尴 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
尴 = 尢 + 监. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 尴
IDS Structure⿺尢监
尴Full Character
=
尢you2
enclosing
监jian1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 尴?
How to say embarrassed in Chinese
“embarrassed” in Chinese is尴gān
The character 尴 (gān) conveys feelings of embarrassment or awkwardness. It is often used in social contexts where someone feels uncomfortable or ill at ease, such as making a mistake in front of others or being in an embarrassing situation.
When to use 尴
Be careful not to confuse 尴 (gān) with similar-sounding words; it specifically relates to embarrassment and is often used in informal contexts. Common collocations include 尴尬 (gāngà), which means 'awkward.' Remember to use the correct tone to convey the feeling accurately.
尴 or something close to it
尴 (gān) vs 忌 (jì) — use 尴 for social embarrassment, while 忌 refers to being taboo or having a dislike.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 尴 with similar characters like 感 (gǎn), which means 'feel.' An incorrect sentence might be '我感尴尬' ('I feel embarrassed'), which should be corrected to '我觉得尴尬' ('I feel embarrassed').
Write 尴
尴
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Practice writing 尴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 尴
尴 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
