Translation guide
Describes something that causes intense fear, shock, or disgust. Japanese has several words that overlap with 'horrifying' but differ in nuance, from sheer terror to moral revulsion.
Something so frightening it shocks or paralyzes you.
The most common and versatile word for 'frightening' or 'terrifying'. Can be used for both physical danger and emotional dread.
あの事故は本当に恐ろしかった。
That accident was truly horrifying.
Everyday word for 'scary' or 'frightening'. Less intense than 恐ろしい, but still covers many 'horrifying' situations in casual speech.
その話、めっちゃ怖いね。
That story is really horrifying, isn't it?
Literary/formal verb meaning 'to shudder with fear'. Often used in written descriptions of something deeply horrifying.
その光景に戦慄した。
I shuddered at the horrifying sight.
Something so cruel, violent, or disgusting that it horrifies you morally.
Strong word for something repulsive, hideous, or morally disgusting. Often used for atrocities or gruesome scenes.
その犯罪はおぞましいものだった。
The crime was horrifying.
Same reading as おぞましい but often written with this kanji. Emphasizes the feeling of disgust and dread.
Means 'cruel', 'brutal', or 'ghastly'. Often used for tragic or pitiless situations.
Loanword from English 'grotesque'. Used for visually horrifying, distorted, or bizarre imagery.
Used informally to mean something is shockingly bad, ugly, or awful.
Common word for 'terrible', 'awful', or 'dreadful'. In casual speech, it can express that something is horrifyingly bad.
その服、ひどいね。
That outfit is horrifying.
Means 'the worst'. Often used as an exclamation when something is shockingly bad.
恐ろしい (osoroshii) is the strongest for fear/dread. 怖い (kowai) is everyday 'scary'. おぞましい (ozomashii) is for moral revulsion or disgust. Use 恐ろしい for life-threatening horror, おぞましい for atrocities, and 怖い for common fears.
The direct loanword ホリファイング (horifaingu) is not standard Japanese. Use native words or established loanwords like グロテスク instead.
悍ましい事件が起きた。
A horrifying incident occurred.
They were killed in a horrifying way.
その映画はグロテスクなシーンが多すぎる。
That movie has too many horrifying scenes.
あの料理は最悪だった。
That food was horrifying.