How to say "dreadful" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- i-adjectiveCovers dreadful as sheer intensity; the same word usually means 'amazing', and is normally written in kana, so its dreadful use describes terribly intense things such as dreadful weather or noise.
- 恐ろしいおそろしいi-adjectiveThe natural choice for dreadful things that inspire dread or horror: dreadful accidents, news, or thoughts. It carries a strong sense of terror, not merely something very bad.
- 凄まじいすさまじいi-adjectiveDreadful with overwhelming force or violence: a dreadful roar, storm, or struggle. It stresses sheer, almost frightening intensity more than fear itself.
- 怖いこわいi-adjectiveHere dreadful is marginal: the word really means 'scary' or 'frightening' — fear you feel yourself. Use it when dreadful amounts to frightening, not for merely bad things.
- 鬼気ききnounA noun rather than an adjective, and a marginal match for 'dreadful': its real meaning is 'ghastly', a menacing quality in a person's look or manner, so reach for it only in that spirit.
Choose by what is dreadful: 「すごい」 for sheer intensity, 「恐ろしい」 for dread-inspiring horror, 「凄まじい」 for violent awfulness, 「怖い」 for personal fear, and 鬼気 for a ghastly, menacing quality.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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