Japanese word

怖がる

Pronunciation

Romajikowagaru

Meaning

  • verbbe afraid, be scared of ___

Example

子どもたちは雷を怖がります。ko do mo ta chi wa kaminari o kowa ga ri ma su

The children are afraid of thunder.

Illustration for 怖がる (be afraid)

More examples

弟は大きな音を怖がります。otōto wa ō ki na oto o kowa ga ri ma su

My little brother is scared of loud noises.

うちの猫は掃除機を怖がります。u chi no neko wa sō ji ki o kowa ga ri ma su

Our cat is afraid of the vacuum cleaner.

Core concept

怖がる (kowagaru) centers on a fearful response toward a person, thing, event, or situation.

Common phrases

  • 雷を怖がるkaminari o kowa ga ru

    be afraid of thunder

  • 暗闇を怖がるkura yami o kowa ga ru

    be afraid of the dark

Similar words

恐れるosoreru: To experience fear of a person, thing, event, or situation.
怯えるobieru: To show strong fear through a frightened and unsettled response.

Definition in Japanese

恐ろしいものに出会ったり不安を感じたりして、恐れる態度を示す。oso ro shi i mo no ni de a tta ri fu an o kan ji ta ri shi te oso re ru tai do o shime su

Word origin

怖がる (kowagaru) is a native Japanese formation from 怖い (kowai, "frightening") and the suffix がる (garu, "display a feeling"), which makes a verb describing a person's reaction.

Usage tips

  • Japanese uses 怖がる (kowagaru) for a visible reaction to fear, so it often describes behavior rather than a private feeling alone.

Opposites

Related words

  • 怖がりkowagaritimid personnoun

Word lists with this word