Entry
いけしゃあしゃあ
ikeshaashaa
Acting shamelessly or brazenly without any sense of guilt.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Describes someone acting completely unaffected, innocent, or unbothered in a situation where they should logically feel ashamed, apologetic, or guilty for their actions.
- lying shamelessly
- acting innocent after wrongdoing
Sense Map
Lying or Making Excuses
Lying or making excuses with a perfectly innocent face, showing no hesitation or guilt.
いけしゃあしゃあと嘘をつく。
Acting Innocent
Behaving as if nothing happened and showing no remorse after committing a wrongdoing.
いけしゃあしゃあとしている。
Usage Note
How to Use
いけしゃあしゃあと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action (like lying or speaking) is done with utter shamelessness.
いけしゃあしゃあしている
Describes the ongoing state of someone acting completely unbothered and innocent.
いけしゃあしゃあとした + noun
Modifies a noun (like an attitude or face) to indicate that it is brazen or shameless.
How to Use
Common Phrases
いけしゃあしゃあと嘘をつく
to lie shamelessly
いけしゃあしゃあと言い訳をする
to make excuses brazenly
いけしゃあしゃあとした態度
a shameless attitude
いけしゃあしゃあとした顔
an unapologetic face / a brazen look
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| When someone gets caught in a lie but keeps denying it. | Negative, exasperated. | Shows disgust at the person's audacity to keep up the charade. |
| When someone evades responsibility for a problem they caused. | Critical, accusatory. | Highlights the sheer nerve of the person acting like they have nothing to do with it. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
のこのこ のこのこ / similar | Used when someone shows up or makes a physical appearance unconcernedly at a time or place where they shouldn't. | いけしゃあしゃあ focuses on the brazen attitude in speech or general behavior, whereas のこのこ specifically highlights the physical act of showing up without feeling shame. | のこのこ現れる |
おめおめ おめおめ / similar | Used for situations where someone resigns themselves to disgrace passively, such as returning alive in defeat. | いけしゃあしゃあ implies the person *doesn't* feel shame and acts arrogant or innocent, whereas おめおめ implies carrying shame or disgrace passively. | おめおめと帰る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to mean 'confidently' in a positive sense.
This word is purely negative. It criticizes someone's audacity, it never praises positive self-confidence.
Using it for a minor, innocent mistake.
It is reserved for significant instances of lying or wrongdoing where the person intentionally acts as if they are blameless.
Examples
Examples
彼はいけしゃあしゃあと嘘をついて、私を騙そうとした。
かれはいけしゃあしゃあと、うそをついて、わたしをだまそうとした。
He brazenly lied and tried to deceive me.
LiteralA common example of lying without showing any guilt.
自分が悪いのに、彼はいけしゃあしゃあとしている。
じぶんがわるいのに、かれはいけしゃあしゃあとしている。
Even though he is at fault, he is acting completely unbothered.
VisualDescribes the outward appearance of someone showing no remorse.
彼女はいけしゃあしゃあとした顔で、言い訳を始めた。
かのじょはいけしゃあしゃあとしたかおで、いいわけをはじめた。
She started making excuses with a completely innocent look on her face.
VisualFocuses on the facial expression of pretending to be innocent.
人に迷惑をかけておいて、いけしゃあしゃあとよくそんなことが言えるね。
ひとにめいわくをかけておいて、いけしゃあしゃあとよくそんなことがいえるね。
How can you say that so shamelessly after causing trouble for others?
LiteralA sentence showing exasperation or anger toward the listener.
あの社長はいけしゃあしゃあとした態度で、責任を逃れた。
あのしゃちょうはいけしゃあしゃあとしたたいどで、せきにんをのがれた。
That company president evaded responsibility with a brazen attitude.
LiteralAn example of evading responsibility with an unbothered attitude.
Similar Words
のこのこ
nokonoko
Nokonoko describes someone showing up or acting in a shameless, unconcerned manner when they should feel embarrassed or hesitant. Both involve lacking shame, but のこのこ focuses on the physical act of showing up where one shouldn't.
おめおめ
omeome
Describes the attitude of acting shamelessly or brazenly, especially when one ought to feel ashamed or responsible. Both relate to shame, but おめおめ implies carrying disgrace passively, whereas いけしゃあしゃあ means feeling absolutely no shame at all.
Questions
Can I use いけしゃあしゃあ in polite conversation?
No, it is highly colloquial and deeply critical. It would be considered extremely rude to use in formal business settings or toward superiors.
Can I use this word about myself?
Generally no, unless you are being extremely self-deprecating about a past shameless action of yours. It is overwhelmingly used to criticize others.
Does it mean the person is actually innocent?
No, it implies they are guilty or at fault, but are merely putting on an innocent, unbothered act.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2199710
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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