Translation guide
The English verb 'scare' means to cause fear or alarm. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 怖がらせる (kowagaraseru), but the natural way to express this depends on whether you are scaring someone intentionally, accidentally, or describing something that is scary. This guide covers the main patterns.
そんなふうに驚かさないで！
Don't scare me like that!
Expressing that a person or thing causes fear in someone else, often as a deliberate act.
The most direct transitive verb meaning 'to scare someone'. It implies causing someone to feel fear. Can be used for both intentional and unintentional scaring.
弟を怖がらせてしまった。
I accidentally scared my little brother.
He often scares his friends.
Means 'to startle' or 'to surprise' someone, often with a sudden action. It's more about causing a jump scare than deep fear. Commonly used for pranks.
後ろから驚かさないで！
Don't scare me from behind!
Can mean 'to threaten' or 'to scare'. Often implies intimidation or using fear as a tactic. Less common for simple startling.
彼はナイフで私を脅かした。
He scared me with a knife.
Describing the state of being afraid. In Japanese, this is usually expressed with an intransitive verb or adjective, not a passive of 'scare'.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be scared' or 'to show fear'. Used for a visible reaction of fear.
犬が雷を怖がっている。
The dog is scared of thunder.
Adjective meaning 'scary' or 'frightening'. Often used to say something is scary or that you are scared of something.
Means 'to be surprised' or 'startled'. Often used for a sudden scare rather than ongoing fear.
急に大きな音がしてびっくりした。
I was scared by a sudden loud noise.
Causing someone or something to leave by frightening them.
Means 'to drive away' or 'to scare off'. Often used for animals or unwanted people.
猫を追い払った。
I scared the cat away.
Literally 'to threaten and drive out'. Emphasizes using fear to make someone leave.
彼らはその男を脅して追い出した。
They scared the man off.
Using fear to compel an action.
Pattern meaning 'to scare someone into doing ~'. The verb 脅す (to threaten) is used with the causative form.
彼は私を脅して金を出させた。
He scared me into giving him money.
Similar pattern using 怖がらせる (to scare). Less common but still natural.
親は子供を怖がらせて言うことを聞かせることがある。
Parents sometimes scare their children into obeying.
Referring to an instance of being scared or a situation that causes fear.
Means 'fear' or 'terror'. Can be used for a scare, but often refers to a deeper fear.
その事故は大きな恐怖を与えた。
The accident gave us a big scare.
Means 'surprise' or 'startle'. Suitable for a sudden scare.
Literally 'a scary experience'. A natural way to say 'a scare'.
昨夜は怖い思いをした。
I had a scare last night.
English often uses 'I was scared' (passive), but Japanese does not use a passive form of 'scare'. Instead, use 怖がる (I was scared) or 怖い (it was scary). Saying 怖がらせられた is unnatural.
驚かす (odorokasu) is for startling someone with a sudden action, like jumping out and saying 'Boo!'. 怖がらせる (kowagaraseru) is for causing fear, which can be more psychological or lasting. Use 驚かす for pranks and 怖がらせる for genuinely frightening someone.
そのホラー映画は本当に怖かった。
The horror movie really scared me.
Using 怖い (scary) is more natural than saying 'it scared me'.
彼は偽物のクモで私を驚かそうとした。
He tried to scare me with a fake spider.
I'm scared of dark places.
彼女は驚きの声をあげた。
She let out a scare (a scream of surprise).