Translation guide
The English word 'outrage' covers strong anger, moral shock, and scandalous acts. Japanese expresses these through nouns for anger and shock, verbs for being outraged, and phrases describing outrageous behavior. The best choice depends on whether you are describing a feeling, a reaction, or an action.
Expressing a feeling of intense anger, often in response to injustice or offense.
A strong noun meaning 'rage' or 'fury'. Often used in formal or written contexts to describe intense anger.
彼の行動に激怒した。
I was outraged by his actions.
General word for 'anger'. Can be used for outrage when modified with intensifiers like 大きな (big) or 強い (strong).
そのニュースに強い怒りを感じた。
I felt strong outrage at the news.
Implies righteous indignation or resentment, often moral outrage. Slightly formal and literary.
不正に対する憤りが爆発した。
Outrage over the injustice exploded.
Literary or dramatic term for 'rage' or 'wrath'. Rare in everyday speech.
彼の顔は憤怒に燃えていた。
His face was burning with outrage.
Describing a reaction of shock and disapproval at something considered morally wrong or unacceptable.
Verb meaning 'to be indignant' or 'to be outraged'. Commonly used for moral outrage.
人々はその決定に憤慨した。
People were outraged by the decision.
Literally 'to feel anger'. A common way to express becoming outraged, often with a sense of moral wrong.
彼の無礼な態度に怒りを覚えた。
I felt outrage at his rude attitude.
Righteous indignation; moral outrage. Used in formal or written contexts.
Referring to an action or event that causes outrage; something shocking and unacceptable.
An outrageous or reckless act, often with social or political implications. Implies a violation of norms.
その政策は暴挙だと言われた。
The policy was called an outrage.
Injustice, cruelty, or an atrocious act. Often used in phrases like 非道な行為 (outrageous act).
Loanword for 'scandal'. Used for events that cause public outrage, especially in media.
Violence, outrage, or disorderly conduct. Literary and somewhat archaic.
Describing the action of making someone feel outraged.
Causative form of 激怒する: 'to enrage' or 'to infuriate'. Directly means to cause outrage.
彼の言葉は聴衆を激怒させた。
His words outraged the audience.
Causative of 怒る: 'to make angry'. Less intense than 激怒させる but commonly used.
その発言は多くの人を怒らせた。
The remark outraged many people.
Causative of 憤慨する: 'to make indignant'. Suitable for moral outrage.
その不公平な扱いは彼を憤慨させた。
The unfair treatment outraged him.
There is no single Japanese noun that covers all uses of 'outrage'. Using 激怒 for an act or 暴挙 for a feeling will sound unnatural. Choose the word based on whether you mean anger, shock, or an act.
激怒 is pure intense anger, while 憤慨 includes a sense of moral indignation. Use 激怒 for personal fury, and 憤慨 when the anger is based on principles or injustice.
彼の裏切りに激怒した。
I was outraged by his betrayal. (personal anger)
政府の対応に憤慨した。
I was outraged by the government's response. (moral indignation)
その決定は世論の激怒を引き起こした。
The decision caused public outrage.
彼女はその不正に憤慨した。
She was outraged by the injustice.
He acted out of moral outrage.
His outrageous act is unforgivable.
その不正は大きなスキャンダルになった。
The corruption became a huge outrage.
狼藉を働く者を許すな。
Do not forgive those who commit outrages.