How to say "terrible" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- i-adjectiveThis is seldom the word you want for the frightening sense of 'terrible'; it is really an intensifier meaning tremendous or overwhelming, and in everyday speech it most often means 'amazing'.
- 恐ろしいおそろしいi-adjectiveThe main word for the frightening, dreadful sense of 'terrible': it describes things that inspire fear or dread, from terrifying events to dreadful news.
- 凄まじいすさまじいi-adjectiveCovers 'terrible' as in awful or horrible through sheer intensity: it describes things of overwhelming, violent force or degree rather than things that simply inspire fear.
- 恐るべきおそるべきprenominal modifierLiterally 'to be feared': it describes something fearsome or formidable, dreadful in a way that commands awe as well as fear.
- i-adjectiveA colloquial variant of すごい used in casual conversation; like it, this is really an intensifier meaning 'super' or 'really', and it is not the word for frightening 'terrible'.
Use 「恐ろしい」 for frightening, dreadful 'terrible', 「恐るべき」 for something to be feared, 「凄まじい」 for overwhelming intensity, while 「すごい」 and 「すっごい」 are really intensifiers that seldom mean 'terrible'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- すごいterrible
- 恐ろしいおそろしいterrible
- 凄まじいすさまじいterrible
- 恐るべきおそるべきterrible
- すっごいterrible
- 甚だしいはなはだしいextreme
- まずいbad(-tasting)
- 猛烈もうれつfierce
- とんでもないunthinkable
- テリブルterrible
- どうもこうもないterrible
- べらぼうextreme
- しどいawful
- 偉えらtremendous
- 惨憺さんたんmiserable
- むごたらしい(incredibly) cruel
- 箸にも棒にもかからないはしにもぼうにもかからないhopeless
- 箸にも棒にも引っかからないはしにもぼうにもひっかからないhopeless
- こっぴどい(really) terrible
- やばいawful
- ずいぶんterrible
- ひどいvery bad
- えらいawful
- 魔まdreaded
- とんだterrible
- 非常ひじょうextreme
- 大変たいへんserious
- ものすごいfrightful
- 最悪さいあくhorrible
- むごいtragic
- おとろしいterrible
- やばすawful
- ごついextreme
- くそterrible
- あまりextreme
- あんましextreme
See also
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