怖い
kowai[ko̞β̞a̠i]
The English phrase "I am scared" is expressed in Japanese as 怖い (kowai).
The word 怖い is used to express that someone feels fear or is frightened. Depending on the context, it can mean both "I am scared" and "Something is scary."
How does it change in a sentence?
怖い is an i-adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
kowai
Did you know?
- The word 怖い originally comes from a word meaning 'stiff' or 'strong'. Over time, the feeling of tension associated with strength shifted to mean the feeling of fear.
- In a social context, saying 怖い can be a way of politely suggesting that a plan or idea is too risky. It functions as a soft 'no' by focusing on the speaker's feeling rather than the other person's idea.
- Japanese has several words for fear, and 怖い is distinct from 恐ろしい (osoroshii). While 怖い is common for everyday fright, 恐ろしい is reserved for a deep, awe-inspiring or catastrophic dread.
Examples in context
- 蜘蛛が怖いんです。I am scared of spiders.This sentence is useful for expressing a specific fear using 怖い.Tatoeba #1486289 by marshmallowcat, translation #5966430 by mailohilohi
- 新しい場所に行くので、少し不安です。I am a little scared because I'm going to a new place.
- 一人で夜道を歩くのは怖いです。Hitori de yomichi o aruku no wa kowai desu.I am scared of walking alone on a night road.
- 高いところがすごく怖い。Takai tokoro ga sugoku kowai.I am very scared of high places.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are watching a horror movie.
- 陽太 Yotaこの映画、すごく怖いね。kono eiga, sugoku kowai ne.This movie is really scary, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、私も怖いよ。un, watashi mo kowai yo.Yeah, I'm scared too.
- 陽太 Yotaもう消そうか。mou kesou ka.Shall we turn it off now?
- 陽葵 Himariそうだね、お願い。sou da ne, onegai.Good idea, please.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 怖い, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 怖い, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
