How to say "scare" in Japanese

• 脅かすおびやかすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbScaring as intimidation: the おびやかす reading is for deliberately making someone afraid, frightening them into doing what you want or keeping them in fear, rather than startling them.
• 恐慌きょうこうCommon
  nounA noun for a scare as an event: a sudden wave of panic or alarm spreading through a group, as in a financial or health scare. It is not the verb for frightening someone.
• 恐怖きょうふJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbIt names the emotion of fear or dread rather than the act of scaring, so as a translation of 'scare' it is marginal; reach for it when you mean the fear or terror someone feels.
  私は恐怖きょうふで気きも狂くるわんばかりだった。↗

  I almost went crazy with fear.
• 脅かすおどかすJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe おどかす reading is the verb for actually startling or frightening someone — jumping out at them, scaring them as a joke. Use it when 'scare' means giving someone a sudden fright.
  脅おどかさないでよ。↗

  Don't scare me like that!

For the verb, おどかす is startling or frightening someone, while おびやかす leans toward intimidating them; 恐慌 is a noun for a scare as an episode of panic, and 恐怖 names the feeling of fear itself.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 脅かすおびやかすto intimidate
• 恐慌きょうこうpanic
• 恐怖きょうふfear
• 脅かすおどかすto startle