Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 悲鳴を上げる | himei o ageru | [çime̞ː o̞ a̠ɡe̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 怒鳴り付ける | donaritsukeru | |
| キャーと叫ぶ | kyā to sakebu |
The way you express a scream depends on the reason and the direction of the sound. Use 悲鳴を上げる for screams caused by fear, pain or shock. If you are shouting or yelling at someone in an aggressive or reprimanding way, use 怒鳴り付ける. For a high-pitched, piercing scream often associated with being startled or excited, use キャーと叫ぶ. Additionally, the noun 悲鳴 refers to a scream, while the formal term 叫声 can be used to mean a cry or scream in a general sense. In informal settings, the onomatopoeic terms ギャア or キャーッ may be used to represent high-pitched shrieks or expressions of excitement and surprise.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 悲鳴を上げる literally means 'to raise a scream', where 悲鳴 means 'scream' and 上げる means 'to raise' or 'to lift'.
Which one should you use?
悲鳴を上げる is specifically for screams resulting from fear, pain or shock. In contrast, 怒鳴り付ける implies a directed, aggressive shouting at another person, typically in an angry manner. The onomatopoeia キャー is the standard way to represent a high-pitched female scream in Japanese text, and the phrase キャーと叫ぶ describes the specific act of making that high-pitched, piercing scream.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
himei o ageru
Did you know?
- The phrase 悲鳴を上げる is often used metaphorically in business or news to describe a company or industry that is 'screaming' under financial pressure or crisis.
- The word 悲鳴 contains the character for 'sadness' or 'sorrow', suggesting that the traditional concept of a scream is deeply rooted in emotional distress rather than just volume.
- The term 怒鳴り付ける is often used when a superior is yelling at a subordinate, making it a verb heavily associated with social hierarchy and power dynamics.
Examples in context
- 彼女は叫びましたShe screamed.
- 彼は突然悲鳴を上げたHe suddenly let out a scream.
- 彼女の叫声が遠くに響いたHer scream echoed in the distance.
- 彼は怖くてギャアと叫んだHe screamed in fear, "Gyaa!"
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are watching a scary movie together.
- 結衣 Yui結衣、怖すぎない？Yui, kowasuginai?Yota, isn't this too scary?
- 陽太 Yota本当だね。結衣は悲鳴を上げるかな？Hontou da ne. Yui wa himei o ageru kana?You're right. I wonder if Yui will scream.
- 結衣 Yui私は絶対に悲鳴を上げないよ！Watashi wa zettai ni himei o agenai yo!I definitely won't scream!
- 陽太 Yotaあ、今悲鳴を上げたね。A, ima himei o ageta ne.Oh, you just screamed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scream” translations and entries 悲鳴を上げる, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
