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Schamgefühl

sense of shame

noun SHAAM-ge-fuel Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Usage Note

Schamgefühl is the felt experience of shame — the inner sting of having violated a personal or social norm. Distinct from Schuldgefühl (guilt), which focuses on an act's wrongness; Schamgefühl is about one's own worth in others' eyes.

Examples

"Ein tiefes Schamgefühl überwältigte sie, als ihr Fehler öffentlich bekannt wurde."

Natural Translation

A deep sense of shame overwhelmed her when her mistake became publicly known.

Literal Translation

A deep sense-of-shame overwhelmed her, as her mistake publicly known became.

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