feeling of guilt
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feeling of guilt
The tormenting feeling or awareness of having committed a moral or legal wrongdoing, or of being responsible for something negative.
Obwohl es nicht seine Schuld war, hatte er nach dem Unfall starke Schuldgefühle.
Although it was not his fault, he had strong feelings of guilt after the accident.
The word is a direct compound of 'die Schuld' (guilt/fault) and 'das Gefühl' (feeling). So it describes exactly that: a feeling you have when you believe you are guilty.
Ein tiefes Schuldgefühl machte es ihm unmöglich zu schlafen.
A deep feeling of guilt made it impossible for him to sleep.
Common verbs used with this noun are 'Schuldgefühle haben' (to have feelings of guilt), 'Schuldgefühle entwickeln' (to develop feelings of guilt), or 'von Schuldgefühlen geplagt werden' (to be plagued by feelings of guilt). Adjectives like 'stark' (strong), 'tief' (deep), or 'quälend' (tormenting) describe the intensity.
Er wurde von starken Schuldgefühlen geplagt.
He was plagued by strong feelings of guilt.
Although the singular form 'das Schuldgefühl' (the feeling of guilt) exists, the word is very often used in everyday language in the plural, 'die Schuldgefühle' (feelings of guilt). This emphasizes that the feelings are recurring or complex.
Nach dem Streit hatte sie gemischte Gefühle und auch Schuldgefühle.
After the argument, she had mixed feelings and also feelings of guilt.
remorse
Reue and Schuldgefühl can both arise after someone has done something wrong. Reue additionally involves deep regret and often the wish to undo the action; Schuldgefühl mainly describes the tormenting awareness of being responsible. Choose Reue when the regret is the focus.
Nach seiner Lüge hatte er ein starkes Schuldgefühl, weil er für den Streit verantwortlich war.
After lying, he felt a strong sense of guilt because he was responsible for the argument.
Nach seiner Lüge empfand er große Reue und wünschte, er hätte die Wahrheit gesagt.
After lying, he felt deep remorse and wished he had told the truth.
