झेंप (jhemp)
noun
A feeling-word for the awkward, sheepish embarrassment you feel when caught out or self-conscious -- more 'shy fluster' than 'shame'. Mainly used as a noun; the related verb झेंपना (jhempnaa) means 'to feel awkward/sheepish'.
Sense
1
:
awkward embarrassment, sheepishness
noun, feminine
Synonyms: शर्म (sharm, broader term for shame/shyness), संकोच (sankoch, hesitation/reticence), खिसियानापन (khisiyaanaapan, rare)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Picture someone who's just been caught in a small lie or has tripped over their own words in front of friends -- that sheepish half-smile and looking away is झेंप (jhemp). It's a very physical, visible embarrassment, often accompanied by a nervous laugh, and Hindi speakers love the phrase झेंप मिटाना (jhemp mitaanaa) for the little cover-up gesture (a joke, a scratch of the head) people do to hide it.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for शर्म (sharm) for every kind of embarrassment, but झेंप (jhemp) specifically names the flustered, caught-out feeling -- like being teased or fumbling in front of others -- not general modesty or shyness around elders. 2) It very commonly pairs with the verb मिटाना (mitaanaa) or छिपाना (chhipaanaa) in the sense of 'to hide/cover one's embarrassment', as in झेंप मिटाना (jhemp mitaanaa, 'to cover up one's embarrassment').
Sample Sentences:
उसकी बात पकड़ी गई तो उसके चेहरे पर झेंप साफ़ दिखने लगी।
When his lie got caught, the embarrassment became clearly visible on his face.
(uskii baat pakdii gaii to uske chehre par jhemp saaf dikhne lagii।)
वह झेंप मिटाने के लिए हँसने लगा।
He started laughing to cover up his embarrassment.
(vah jhemp mitaane ke lie hansne lagaa।)
जब भी वह गलत जवाब देता है, उसकी झेंप उसके चेहरे से झलक जाती है।
Whenever he gives a wrong answer, his sheepish embarrassment shows on his face.
(jab bhii vah galat javaab detaa hai, uskii jhemp uske chehre se jhalak jaatii hai।)
अपनी झेंप मिटाने के लिए वह सिर खुजाने लगी।
She started scratching her head to hide her embarrassment.
(apnii jhemp mitaane ke lie vah sir khujaane lagii।)
सबके सामने डायलॉग भूल जाने पर उसकी झेंप देखने लायक थी।
His sheepish embarrassment was quite a sight when he forgot his lines in front of everyone.
(sabke saamne daaylog bhool jaane par uskii jhemp dekhne laayak thii।)
काश उस वक़्त मुझे इतनी झेंप न होती।
I wish I hadn't felt so awkwardly embarrassed at that moment.
(kaash us vaqt mujhe itnii jhemp n hotii।)
अगर वह गिर जाता, तो उसकी झेंप और भी बढ़ जाती।
If he had fallen, his embarrassment would have grown even more.
(agar vah gir jaataa, to uskii jhemp aur bhii badh jaatii।)
अपनी झेंप छिपाओ मत, यह तो होता ही है।
Don't hide your embarrassment, this sort of thing happens.
(apnii jhemp chhipaao mat, yah to hotaa hii hai।)
शायद उसकी झेंप की वजह उसका झूठ पकड़ा जाना हो।
Perhaps the reason for his embarrassment is that his lie got caught.
(shaayad uskii jhemp kii vajah uskaa jhooth pakdaa jaanaa ho।)
मंच पर लड़खड़ाकर बोलते हुए उसकी झेंप हर किसी को नज़र आ रही थी।
As he stumbled over his words on stage, his sheepish embarrassment was visible to everyone.
(manch par ladakhdaakar bolte hue uskii jhemp har kisii ko nazar aa rahii thii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
झेंप
(jhemp)
(sg.f.oblique):
झेंप
(jhemp)
(pl.f.direct):
झेंपें
(jhempen)
(pl.f.oblique):
झेंपों
(jhempon)