Translation guide
The English phrase "get mad" describes becoming angry. In Japanese, expressing this depends on the intensity, cause, and social context. Common verbs include 怒る (okoru) for general anger, 腹が立つ (hara ga tatsu) for a more visceral feeling, and キレる (kireru) for losing one's temper. The choice also depends on whether you are describing your own anger or someone else's.
To express that someone becomes angry, in a neutral or descriptive way.
The most common and general verb for 'to get angry'. Can be used for oneself or others.
彼はすぐ怒る。
He gets mad easily.
そんなに怒らないでください。
Please don't get so mad.
Literally 'stomach stands up', meaning to get irritated or angry. Often used for personal feelings of annoyance.
彼の態度には腹が立つ。
His attitude makes me mad.
Slang for snapping or losing one's temper suddenly. Implies a loss of control.
あの先生はすぐキレる。
That teacher gets mad really fast.
To be indignant or resentful. More formal and literary.
不正を憤る。
To be angered by injustice.
To express anger in a polite or formal setting, often using honorific or humble language.
Honorific form of 怒る, used to describe someone of higher status getting angry.
部長がお怒りになりました。
The department manager got mad.
A polite expression meaning 'to be angry'. Often used in business contexts.
お客様がご立腹です。
The customer is mad.
To express anger directed at a specific person.
Use the particle に to indicate the target of anger.
母は私に怒った。
My mother got mad at me.
Literally 'to raise one's stomach against someone', meaning to get angry at someone.
彼は友達に腹を立てた。
He got mad at his friend.
To express anger caused by a situation or thing.
The particle に can also mark the cause of anger.
彼はその知らせに怒った。
He got mad at the news.
Using で to indicate the reason or cause, often for more abstract causes.
彼は冗談で怒った。
He got mad over a joke.
To describe a sudden outburst of anger.
As above, implies a sudden snap. Very common in casual speech.
彼はちょっとしたことでキレた。
He snapped over a little thing.
Compound verb meaning 'to start getting angry' or 'to burst out in anger'.
To express causing someone else to become angry.
Causative form of 怒る. The object is marked with を.
彼を怒らせてしまった。
I made him mad.
Causative of 腹を立てる, meaning to make someone angry.
彼の言葉が彼女の腹を立てさせた。
His words made her mad.
Do not translate 'get' literally with 得る (eru) or なる (naru) when expressing anger. 'Get mad' is not 怒るを得る or 怒るになる. Use the verbs and phrases listed above.
怒る (okoru) is a general verb that can describe outward displays of anger, while 腹が立つ (hara ga tatsu) focuses on the internal feeling of irritation. 腹が立つ is often used when the anger is not necessarily expressed openly.
To say someone 'is mad' (as a state), use the te-iru form: 怒っている (okotte iru). This is more natural than 怒る for describing current anger.
彼はまだ怒っている。
He is still mad.
彼女は突然怒り出した。
She suddenly got mad.