Meaning and Usage
"창피하다" means to feel ashamed or embarrassed, often because of a mistake, failure, or socially awkward situation. It is commonly used in everyday conversation to express personal feelings of shame or embarrassment.
Common Contexts
This word is frequently used when talking about personal failures, social blunders, or situations where one feels exposed or humiliated. It can describe both mild embarrassment and stronger feelings of shame.
Collocations and Patterns
- "창피하다" + reason (e.g., "시험에서 떨어져서 창피하다") — to express the cause of shame.
- "창피해서 얼굴을 들 수 없다" — to be too ashamed to face someone.
- "창피하지 않아요?" — a rhetorical question to point out someone's shameful behavior.
Register and Politeness
"창피하다" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but the sentence ending and politeness level should be adjusted accordingly.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "창피하다" with "부끄럽다". While both relate to embarrassment, "창피하다" often implies a stronger feeling of shame or disgrace, especially in social contexts, whereas "부끄럽다" can be used for more general shyness or modesty.