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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "awkward" with 尴尬 (gāngà)

    Description & Modification

    Structure

    Subject + 尴尬 + 地 + Verb

    Explanation

    尴尬 (gāngà) describes a feeling of awkwardness or embarrassment in a social situation. It can function as an adjective, as in 很尴尬 (very awkward), or modify a verb with 地, as in 尴尬地笑了 (smiled awkwardly).

    Examples

    • 当时的场面真的太尴尬了。

      Dāngshí de chǎngmiàn zhēn de tài gāngà le.

      The situation at the time was really too awkward.

    • 他尴尬地笑了笑，不知道怎么回答。

      Tā gāngà de xiào le xiào, bù zhīdào zěnme huídá.

      He smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to answer.

    • 我叫错了她的名字，特别尴尬。

      Wǒ jiào cuò le tā de míngzi, tèbié gāngà.

      I called her by the wrong name — it was so awkward.

    Often Confused With