embarrassed

embarrassed — adjective

1. feeling uncomfortable and slightly ashamed after doing or saying something that

1.形容詞B1
釋義

feeling uncomfortable and slightly ashamed after doing or saying something that makes you look silly or awkward, especially when other people notice it.

例句

Jude felt embarrassed when he called his teacher 'Mom' in front of the whole class.

felt embarrassed when... — past-tense social-faux-pas scenario

Hari gave an embarrassed laugh after tripping over his own backpack in the hallway.

embarrassed + noun — attributive use before a noun

同義詞
  • self-conscious

    focuses on feeling watched or judged by others, not necessarily after a mistake

  • awkward

    emphasises the social discomfort itself rather than the emotional reaction

  • mortified

    much stronger intensity; suggests extreme humiliation

反義詞
  • proud

    opposite feeling of positive self-regard in a social situation

文法句型

be + embarrassed

feel + embarrassed

too + embarrassed + to-infinitive

embarrassed + about / by / at

用法筆記

Distinguish from ashamed: embarrassed describes the discomfort of an awkward social situation, while ashamed involves a deeper feeling of guilt or moral failure. Compare 'I felt embarrassed when I tripped in the hallway' with 'I felt ashamed of my dishonest answer.'

常見錯誤

❌I was so embarrassed for my bad grades that I hid the report.' (if feeling guilt).
✅I was ashamed of my bad grades.
💡Use ashamed when the feeling involves guilt or regret about a personal failure, not just social awkwardness.

2. not having enough money to pay for basic things or to cover what you need, often

2.形容詞B2
釋義

not having enough money to pay for basic things or to cover what you need, often only for a short period.

例句

After the expensive car repairs, Adina was embarrassed and could not afford groceries that week.

was embarrassed + could not afford — clearly signalled financial context

The school club was embarrassed for funds and had to cancel its annual trip.

embarrassed for funds — fixed collocation

同義詞
  • broke

    more common and informal; implies a more serious lack of money

  • short

    less dramatic — means not quite enough, often temporary

  • strapped

    colloquial; suggests a tight budget rather than complete lack

反義詞
  • well-off

    describes someone who has plenty of money

  • comfortable

    suggests a secure financial position without excess

文法句型

be + embarrassed

find + oneself + embarrassed

embarrassed + for + noun (funds / money / cash)

用法筆記

This sense is informal and far less common than the 'feeling awkward' sense. The financial meaning is always signalled by context — words like funds, cash, afford, bills, or payday in the same sentence make the meaning clear. It is not used before a noun (an embarrassed person cannot mean a broke person in this sense).

常見錯誤

❌I am embarrassed this month.' (ambiguous).
✅I am embarrassed for cash this month.
💡Always add context (funds, money, cash) so readers know you mean the financial sense, not the social one.