How to say "dismay" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 恐怖きょうふnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers 'dismay' in its fear sense — dread or terror at something frightening. As the common word for fear, it is the word to reach for when 'dismay' means real fear rather than flustered confusion.
- 狼狽ろうばいnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers dismay as consternation or panic — the confused, alarmed reaction when something unexpected throws you off balance. A less common word, it suits the flustered side of 'dismay' rather than outright fear.
- 周章狼狽しゅうしょうろうばいnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbA four-character idiom meaning consternation, falling into a panic — an emphatic way to describe being flustered. As a less common yojijukugo, it is seldom the word you want for plain 'dismay'.
Use the common 恐怖 when 'dismay' is essentially fear, dread or terror; choose 狼狽 for dismay as consternation — flustered confusion shading into panic; the yojijukugo 周章狼狽 emphatically describes falling into a panic.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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