gêné or embarrassé

[alan gould]

It seems the former is used more than the latter.  My notes say:

 

I was really embarrassed.      

J'étais vraiment gêné.  

an embarrassed smile - gêné

I was embarrassed about asking ...      

Ça me gênait de demander ... 

I’ve also seen « j’e’prouve de la gene de demander» to say « i’m embarrassed to ask… »

c’est une histoire embarrassante –

it’s an embarrassing story

[Chantal Savignat]

Yes, gêné is easier to use, because smaller.

But embarrassé is used too.

[alan gould]

ok, so i'm going to avoid  "j’e’prouve de la gene de demander",  

it's probably more formal.  i'll just use 

Ça me gênait de demander ... 

shorter is better than smaller here.