Translation guide
Expressing the feeling of being intimidated in Japanese depends on the cause: fear, social pressure, or being overwhelmed by someone's skill or presence. Common expressions include 怖気づく (fear), 気圧される (social pressure), and 萎縮する (shrinking back).
When someone feels scared or loses their nerve due to a threat or danger.
To lose one's nerve, become frightened. Often used when someone backs down from a challenge.
He was intimidated by his opponent's strength.
To flinch, recoil, or be daunted. Often used in negative form to show bravery.
He wasn't intimidated by the threats.
To stagger back, be taken aback. Implies a physical or emotional recoil from intimidation.
He was intimidated by her ferocity.
When someone feels small or pressured by another person's presence, status, or confidence.
To be overwhelmed or overawed by someone's presence or force of personality.
I was intimidated by her confidence.
To be overwhelmed, overpowered. Can be used for both physical and psychological intimidation.
I was intimidated by his knowledge.
To shrink back, wither. Describes becoming timid or withdrawn due to intimidation.
I get intimidated in front of my boss.
When a challenge seems too big and makes someone feel anxious or hesitant.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'intimidate'. Choose the expression based on the source of intimidation: fear (怖気づく), social pressure (気圧される), or task difficulty (尻込みする).
気圧される is specifically about being psychologically overwhelmed by a person's aura or confidence. 圧倒される is broader and can be used for being overwhelmed by numbers, skill, or force.
To hesitate, think twice. Literally 'to step with the second foot', implying reluctance.
He was intimidated by the proposal.