Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing anger depends on the intensity, context, and whether you're describing your own anger or someone else's. Common words include 怒る (okoru) for general anger, 腹が立つ (hara ga tatsu) for personal irritation, and キレる (kireru) for losing one's temper. Politeness and indirectness are often preferred.
To say someone is angry or mad in a general sense, often used in everyday conversation.
The most common verb for 'to get angry' or 'to be angry'. Can be used for both momentary anger and a general state.
The te-iru form of 怒る, meaning 'is angry' (current state). Use this to describe someone being angry right now.
彼はまだ怒っている。
He is still angry.
Literally 'stomach stands', meaning to get irritated or angry. Very common for personal annoyance.
彼の態度には腹が立つ。
His attitude makes me angry.
Slangy, casual expression for feeling irritated or pissed off. Common among younger people.
あいつの言い方、マジでムカつく。
The way he talks really pisses me off.
To describe a sudden, intense outburst of anger, like snapping or blowing up.
Means to snap, lose one's temper, or flip out. Very common in casual speech.
彼はついにキレた。
He finally snapped.
Literally 'anger explodes'. More dramatic and often used in writing or formal descriptions.
彼の怒りが爆発した。
His anger exploded.
Literally 'comes to the head', meaning to get really angry or lose one's cool.
To express lingering anger or resentment over time.
To bear a grudge, resent. Stronger and more lasting than 怒る.
彼は裏切った友人を恨んでいる。
He resents the friend who betrayed him.
To hold a grudge, not forget an offense. Often used in negative requests like 根に持たないで (don't hold a grudge).
To express anger at something unjust or insulting, often with a sense of moral outrage.
To be indignant, resentful. Stronger and more righteous than 怒る. Often used in formal contexts.
国民は政府の対応に憤った。
The citizens were indignant at the government's response.
Literally 'cannot stomach it', meaning to be unable to tolerate an injustice. Very strong and somewhat old-fashioned.
その不正には腹が据えかねた。
I could not stomach that injustice.
To describe the visible signs of anger, like facial expressions or tone.
To make an angry face. Common way to say someone looks angry.
彼は怒った顔をして部屋を出て行った。
He left the room with an angry look on his face.
Literally 'make a scary face', often used when someone looks angry or intimidating.
上司が怖い顔をして近づいてきた。
My boss approached me with an angry look.
Saying 私は怒っている (watashi wa okotte iru) is grammatically correct but can sound overly direct or childish. Japanese speakers often use phrases like 腹が立つ (hara ga tatsu) or describe the situation instead of stating their emotion directly.
ちょっと腹が立った。
I got a bit angry. (more natural than 私は怒った)
怒る (okoru) means to get angry, while 叱る (shikaru) means to scold or reprimand. A parent might 叱る a child without being 怒る, though they often overlap.
母は私を叱ったが、怒ってはいなかった。
My mother scolded me, but she wasn't angry.
His irresponsibility makes me furious.
She holds a grudge even over small things.