embarrassment

基本信息

词性：名词

音标：/ɪmˈbærəsmənt/

中文释义：

尴尬，窘迫

令人难堪的事或人

财务困境，拮据

 

词源

来源于动词 embarrass（使困窘、使局促不安），加名词后缀 -ment 构成，最早使用可追溯到18世纪。

用法说明

不可数名词：表示尴尬、窘境

She felt deep embarrassment when she forgot her lines.

 

可数名词：表示令人难堪的事或人

The party was an embarrassment to the organizers.

 

正式场合：可指财政困难或经济拮据

The company is in financial embarrassment.

 

常见搭配

in embarrassment（处于尴尬之中）

to one's embarrassment（令某人尴尬的是）

cause embarrassment（引起尴尬）

financial embarrassment（经济困难）

a source of embarrassment（令人尴尬的原因）

例句（10句）

She blushed with embarrassment when everyone stared at her.

His mistake was a great embarrassment to the whole team.

The comedian's joke caused some embarrassment among the guests.

He looked away in embarrassment when he realized his error.

To her embarrassment, she forgot the guest’s name.

The company’s financial embarrassment led to bankruptcy.

It was a source of embarrassment that he arrived late again.

The child hid behind his mother in embarrassment.

Her nervous laughter only added to her embarrassment.

They tried to cover the mistake, but it ended in embarrassment.

总结

embarrassment 既可表示内心的尴尬与窘迫，也可指外在的令人难堪的事物或经济困境。在日常交流中主要用于表达心理不适或社交尴尬，在正式书面语中也可延伸为财务拮据。

要不要我也帮你整理一个“常见易混淆词辨析”，比如 embarrassment 和 shame、awkwardness 的区别？