Translation guide
The English verb "aggravate" has two main meanings: to make a situation or condition worse, and to annoy or irritate someone. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for both.
To worsen an existing problem, symptom, or negative state.
The most direct and common translation for making a condition or situation worse. Used in both formal and everyday contexts.
喫煙は症状を悪化させる。
Smoking aggravates the symptoms.
彼の発言が状況を悪化させた。
His remarks aggravated the situation.
To make someone feel annoyed, angry, or frustrated.
Commonly used for causing irritation or frustration. Often used for ongoing annoyance.
彼の態度は私をイライラさせる。
His attitude aggravates me.
渋滞は本当にイライラさせる。
Traffic jams really aggravate me.
In English, you might say 'aggravate an old injury'. In Japanese, use ぶり返す (ぶりかえす) for a recurring injury or pain, or 悪化させる for worsening a condition. ぶり返す is intransitive and often used for symptoms that return.
古傷がぶり返した。
My old injury flared up again.
悪化させる is transitive and formal, suitable for written or serious contexts. 悪くする is its casual transitive counterpart. 悪くなる is intransitive and means 'to become worse'. Choose based on whether someone/something is actively making it worse or it's happening on its own.
Intransitive, meaning 'to get worse'. Use when the subject itself deteriorates, not when someone actively makes it worse.
This is intransitive. To say 'X aggravates Y', use 悪化させる or 悪くする.
天気が悪くなった。
The weather got worse.
Transitive, meaning 'to make worse'. More casual than 悪化させる.
ストレスが肌の状態を悪くする。
Stress aggravates skin conditions.
Specifically for making an illness worse through neglect or improper care, like letting a cold turn into something serious.
風邪をこじらせて肺炎になった。
I aggravated my cold and it turned into pneumonia.
Means 'to make angry'. Stronger than イライラさせる, implying actual anger rather than just irritation.
彼の冗談が彼女を怒らせた。
His joke aggravated her.
Slangy, meaning to piss off or really irritate. Common in casual speech.
あいつの言い方がむかつく。
The way he talks aggravates me.
Means to tease or keep someone in suspense in an annoying way. Not a general 'aggravate'.
彼は答えを教えずに私をじらした。
He aggravated me by not telling me the answer.