Definition

Adjective: - Feeling ashamed, feeling embarrassed: Describes a state of being deeply embarrassed, awkward, or ashamed, often to the point of being flustered or unable to react. It implies a strong sense of shame that shows on one's face.

Usage

• "Ê mặt" is used to describe a person's emotional state when they feel intense shame or embarrassment, typically due to a personal mistake, failure, or being caught in an awkward situation. It is an informal and vivid expression.
• It often functions as a predicate adjective following verbs like cảm thấy (to feel) or thấy (to feel/see), or it can be used descriptively.

Usage Examples

• (After being caught cheating by the teacher, he felt utterly ashamed.)
• (I promised but couldn't do it, I feel so embarrassed.)
• (His words made me feel so awkward and ashamed that I didn't know what to say.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ê mặt mày": A more emphatic and colloquial variant with the same meaning, adding "mày" for emphasis on the personal feeling of shame.
  • Thua một đứa trẻ con, ê mặt mày thật! (Losing to a little kid, how utterly embarrassing!)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngượng (adj): Embarrassed, shy. (Less intense than "ê mặt").
• Xấu hổ (adj/v): Ashamed. (A more standard term for shame).
• Hổ thẹn (adj/v): To feel ashamed, a sense of disgrace. (More literary).

Synonyms

• Xấu hổ: Ashamed.
• Ngượng ngùng: Embarrassed, bashful.
• Hổ thẹn: Ashamed, disgraced.

Related Idioms

• Ê mặt như cháo: To be extremely embarrassed (literally: embarrassed like porridge). This idiom intensifies the feeling of "ê mặt".
  • Bị mẹ mắng giữa đám đông, nó ê mặt như cháo. (Being scolded by his mother in public, he was extremely embarrassed.)

1. Feel ashamed, feel awkward with ashame