خجالت

Persian

Etymology

Pseudo-Arabism, derived from the Arabic root خ ج ل (ḵ-j-l).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [xa.d͡ʒɑː.ˈlat]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [xä.d͡ʒɑː.lǽt̪]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [xä.d͡ʒɑː.lǽt̪]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [xä.d͡ʒɑː.lǽt̪]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [xä.d͡ʒɔː.lǽt̪]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [xe.d͡ʒɒː.lǽt̪]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [χä.d͡ʒɔ.lǽt̪]

Readings
Classical reading?	xajālat
Dari reading?	xajālat
Iranian reading?	xejâlat
Tajik reading?	xajolat

Noun

خجالت • (xejâlat)

1. embarrassment; shame; bashfulness; shyness

Usage notes

• There are nuanced differences between خجالت (xejâlat), حیاء (hayâ'), شرم (šarm), and کمرویی (kamruyi), all of which concern shame and/or shyness.
  • خجالت (xejâlat) is a more self-oriented emotion, in which someone “questions themselves for not being able to be accepted socially or achieving the standards of their social circles”.
  • حیاء (hayâ') and شرم (šarm) most closely approximate “guilt; shame”, and the former is more common in religious contexts.
  • کمرویی (kamruyi) means “shyness; diffidence; lack of confidence”, and is “an emotion that prevents an individual from taking an action which is within their ability and in accordance with their value system”.

Derived terms

• خجالت آور (xejâlat-âvar, “embarrassing”)
• خجالت کشیدن (xejâlat kešidan)
• خجالتی (xejâlati)
• خجالت‌زده (xejâlat-zâde)