Translation guide
Expressing the feeling of being intimidated in Japanese depends on the cause: fear, social pressure, or being overwhelmed by someone's skill or presence. Common expressions include 怖気づく (fear), 気圧される (social pressure), and 萎縮する (shrinking back).
When someone feels scared or loses their nerve due to a threat or danger.
To lose one's nerve, become frightened. Often used when someone backs down from a challenge.
彼は相手の強さに怖気づいた。
He was intimidated by his opponent's strength.
To flinch, recoil, or be daunted. Often used in negative form to show bravery.
彼は脅しにひるまなかった。
He wasn't intimidated by the threats.
To stagger back, be taken aback. Implies a physical or emotional recoil from intimidation.
彼はその剣幕にたじろいだ。
He was intimidated by her ferocity.
When someone feels small or pressured by another person's presence, status, or confidence.
To be overwhelmed or overawed by someone's presence or force of personality.
彼女の自信に気圧された。
I was intimidated by her confidence.
To be overwhelmed, overpowered. Can be used for both physical and psychological intimidation.
彼の知識に圧倒された。
I was intimidated by his knowledge.
To shrink back, wither. Describes becoming timid or withdrawn due to intimidation.
上司の前で萎縮してしまう。
I get intimidated in front of my boss.
When a challenge seems too big and makes someone feel anxious or hesitant.
To hesitate, shrink back from doing something. Often used when someone is intimidated by a task.
難しい仕事に尻込みしている。
I'm intimidated by the difficult task.
To hesitate, think twice. Literally 'to step with the second foot', implying reluctance.
彼はその提案に二の足を踏んだ。
He was intimidated by the proposal.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'intimidate'. Choose the expression based on the source of intimidation: fear (怖気づく), social pressure (気圧される), or task difficulty (尻込みする).
気圧される is specifically about being psychologically overwhelmed by a person's aura or confidence. 圧倒される is broader and can be used for being overwhelmed by numbers, skill, or force.