Translation guide
Expressing anger in Japanese depends on intensity, formality, and whether you describe the feeling or the outburst. Common verbs include 怒る (okoru) for general anger, 腹が立つ (hara ga tatsu) for feeling offended, and キレる (kireru) for snapping. In polite contexts, use 怒っています (okotte imasu) or 立腹する (rippuku suru).
To express that someone becomes angry in a general sense, without specifying intensity.
The most common and versatile verb for 'get angry'. Can be used for mild to strong anger. Often used with ～に (at someone) or ～について (about something).
彼はすぐ怒る。
He gets angry easily.
先生は生徒に怒った。
The teacher got angry at the students.
Literally 'stomach stands up', meaning to get irritated or offended. Focuses on the feeling of anger rising inside. Very common in daily speech.
彼の態度には腹が立つ。
His attitude makes me angry.
あの言い方に腹が立った。
I got angry at the way he said that.
The progressive form of 怒る, meaning 'is angry'. Use this to describe a state of anger rather than the moment of getting angry.
彼女はまだ怒っている。
She is still angry.
A formal term for getting angry, often used in written or official contexts. Not common in casual speech.
彼はその決定に立腹した。
He got angry at the decision.
To express losing one's temper, exploding in anger, or reaching a breaking point.
Slang for snapping or losing one's temper. Implies a sudden, often violent outburst. Very common among younger speakers.
あの人はすぐキレるから気をつけて。
That person snaps easily, so be careful.
彼はキレて机を叩いた。
He snapped and hit the desk.
Literally 'comes to the head', meaning to get really angry or pissed off. Similar to 'losing it'.
Literally 'anger explodes'. A dramatic expression used in writing or storytelling.
彼の怒りが爆発した。
His anger exploded.
To express a milder, more personal sense of being offended, annoyed, or put out.
Means something rubs you the wrong way or gets on your nerves. Focuses on the source of irritation.
彼の冗談は気に障った。
His joke rubbed me the wrong way.
Slang for feeling disgusted or irritated. Very common among younger people. Can be used for things or people.
A formal way to say 'feel displeased' or 'take offense'. Suitable for polite complaints.
その発言を不快に思いました。
I found that remark offensive.
To express anger while maintaining politeness, often in formal or business settings.
The polite form of 怒っている. Use this to state that you or someone else is angry in a respectful manner.
部長はそのミスについて怒っています。
The department manager is angry about that mistake.
Honorific form of 立腹する, used to describe someone of higher status being angry. Very polite.
社長はご立腹のようです。
The company president seems to be angry.
English uses 'get' + adjective to indicate a change of state. In Japanese, you usually use a verb directly (e.g., 怒る) or a phrase (e.g., 腹が立つ). Do not try to translate 'get' as 得る (eru) or なる (naru) in this context.
怒る (okoru) often implies an outward expression of anger (scolding, yelling), while 腹が立つ (hara ga tatsu) focuses on the internal feeling of irritation. Use 腹が立つ when you are annoyed but may not show it.
When specifying who you are angry at, use the particle に: 彼に怒った (I got angry at him). For the cause, use について or のことで: そのことで怒った (I got angry about that).
His irresponsibility really pisses me off.
あの態度、むかつく。
That attitude pisses me off.