The difference in meaning between "I feel guilt" and "I feel guilty" lies in their grammatical structure and the way they convey the emotion.
"I feel guilt": This phrase is grammatically correct, but it is less commonly used in everyday speech. "Guilt" in this context is being used as a noun. When someone says "I feel guilt," they are expressing that they experience the emotion of guilt. It's like saying "I experience guilt" or "I have guilt." This form of expression might be more prevalent in formal or literary contexts.
"I feel guilty": This is the more commonly used phrase to express the emotion of guilt. In this case, "guilty" is an adjective. When someone says "I feel guilty," they are stating that they are experiencing the emotion of guilt, possibly due to something they have done or failed to do.
In summary, "I feel guilt" is a less common way to express guilt and uses "guilt" as a noun, whereas "I feel guilty" is the more standard and natural way to express guilt, using "guilty" as an adjective. Both phrases convey a sense of experiencing guilt, but the second form is the more typical and familiar one in everyday language.