Translation guide
How to express 'glare at' in Japanese, covering angry stares, cold looks, and intense gazes.
To look at someone with anger, hostility, or intimidation.
The most common and direct verb for glaring at someone with anger or hostility. Can also mean to keep a sharp eye on someone.
To look at someone with coldness, disdain, or contempt, often without overt anger.
Literally 'to look with cold eyes'. A common way to describe giving someone a cold, unfriendly stare.
彼は私を冷たい目で見た。
He gave me a cold stare.
To stare fixedly or intensely, sometimes with concentration, curiosity, or intimidation.
To stare rudely or inquisitively. Often used when someone is staring in a way that makes the target uncomfortable. Not necessarily angry, but can be perceived as a glare.
知らない人が私をじろじろ見た。
A stranger stared at me rudely.
English 'glare at' often implies a specific angry or hostile look. In Japanese, simply using 見る (to look) with an adverb may not convey the intensity. Use specific verbs like 睨む or set phrases like 冷たい目で見る to accurately express the nuance.
睨む implies anger or hostility, while じろじろ見る implies rude staring without necessarily being angry. Choose based on the emotion behind the look.
He glared at me.
上司に睨まれた。
I got glared at by my boss.
A more intense version of 睨む, implying a fixed, piercing glare. Often used when someone is very angry.
彼女は彼を睨みつけた。
She glared fiercely at him.
Similar to 睨みつける but slightly more literary or emphatic. Implies a scolding or intimidating glare.
先生はいたずらをした生徒を睨め付けた。
The teacher glared at the student who had misbehaved.
Literally 'to look with white eyes'. Implies looking at someone with disdain, contempt, or as if they are an outcast. Often used when someone has done something socially unacceptable.
遅刻して白い目で見られた。
I was late and got cold looks from everyone.
To look down on someone with contempt or scorn. Stronger and more explicit than 白い目で見る.
彼は私を蔑むような目で見た。
He looked at me with contempt.
To gaze fixedly or stare intently. More neutral than 睨む, but can imply a strong, unwavering look.
彼は画面を凝視した。
He stared fixedly at the screen.
Can also be used for a piercing, intimidating stare even without anger, but usually carries a negative connotation.
彼は相手を睨め付けるように見た。
He looked at his opponent with a piercing stare.