How to say "scary" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 怖いこわいi-adjectiveThe common, general-purpose word for most senses of 'scary': frightening experiences, eerie atmospheres, dreadful things, or the feeling of being afraid. When unsure which word fits, this is the safe choice.
- expressionA colloquial form of 怖い with the same meaning 'scary'. Learners will seldom need to produce it; recognizing it when it comes up in conversation is the more useful skill.
- i-adjectiveA colloquial word meaning 'scary', but less common than 怖い; most learners will rarely meet it, and 怖い is the word to reach for in ordinary contexts.
- i-adjectiveA colloquial word for something frightening or scary, close in meaning to 怖い; it often carries a nuance of menace or intimidation — something or someone that feels threatening.
- 末恐ろしいすえおそろしいi-adjectiveFrightening or worrying because of how things may turn out — the future-oriented side of 'scary'. It expresses worry or foreboding about outcomes rather than fear of what is in front of you.
「怖い」 is the common all-purpose word for frightening, eerie or dreadful things; 「こええ」, 「いびせい」 and 「おっかない」 are colloquial alternatives, while 「末恐ろしい」 describes frightening, worrying prospects for the future.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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