怖い
kowai[ko̞β̞a̠i]
In Japanese, 'scared' is expressed as 怖い (kowai). Wiktionary also lists 脅えた (obieta).
Meaning: afraid, frightened (adj)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 怖い | kowai | [ko̞β̞a̠i] (narrow) |
| 脅えた | obieta |
怖い is a general adjective used to express fear. It can describe the feeling of being scared or the quality of something being scary. This includes physical dangers as well as things that are psychologically unsettling, such as ghosts, dark places or even an intimidating personality.
Which one should you use?
While English distinguishes between 'scared' (the person feeling fear) and 'scary' (the thing causing it), the Japanese word 怖い is used for both. For a more specific description of being visibly shaken or cowed by fear, you can use 怯えた.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something was scary or that you were scared in the past, change the adjective 怖い to its past form 怖かった.
How do you pronounce it?
kowai
Did you know?
- One folk etymology claims 怖い is derived from a phrase meaning 'ghost of a glutton'.
- Japanese has a specific category of 'scary' stories called 怪談 which focus on the supernatural and the unsettling.
- When someone says 怖い in a modern, casual context, they might actually mean something is 'overwhelming' or 'too much' rather than frightening.
Examples in context
- まだ怖いの？Are you still scared?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is still feeling 怖い.Tatoeba #2073753 by bunbuku, translation #2762758 by CK
- 一人が怖いの？Are you scared to be alone?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is 怖い of being alone.Tatoeba #12296446 by small_snow, translation #12296383 by CK
- トムのこと怖いの？Are you scared of Tom?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is 怖い of Tom.Tatoeba #2739684 by tommy_san, translation #2772514 by CK
- 彼女（かのじょ）は恐怖（きょうふ）を感（かん）じていた。She was feeling scared.
- おばけの映画（えいが）を見（み）て、ビビった！I got scared watching a horror movie!
- あの夜（よる）の雷（かみなり）は本当（ほんとう）にびびった。I was really scared of that thunderstorm that night.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daito and Himari are watching a horror movie together.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの映画、すごく怖くない？Kono eiga, sugoku kowakunai?Isn't this movie really scary?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、私いま本当に怖いよ。Un, watashi ima hontō ni kowai yo.Yeah, I'm really scared right now.
- 大翔 Hirotoじゃあ、もう消そうか。Jaa, mō kesou ka.Then, shall we turn it off?
- 陽葵 Himariお願い、怖いから消して。Onegai, kowai kara keshite.Please, turn it off because I'm scared.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scared” translations and entries 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.
