Translation guide
How to express suddenly feeling intense fear in Japanese, from physical reactions to idiomatic phrases.
Expressing that fear suddenly overwhelms you, often with a physical sensation.
Literally 'be attacked by fear', this is the most direct and natural equivalent for 'be seized with fear'. It conveys a sudden, overwhelming fear.
暗闇の中で突然恐怖に襲われた。
I was suddenly seized with fear in the darkness.
Means 'to be driven by fear', implying an uncontrollable urge or feeling. Slightly more literary than 襲われる.
彼は恐怖にかられて逃げ出した。
He ran away, seized with fear.
Means 'to be caught/captured by fear', emphasizing being trapped in a state of fear. Often used in psychological contexts.
彼女は恐怖にとらわれて動けなかった。
She was seized with fear and couldn't move.
An onomatopoeic expression for a sudden shiver of fear or disgust. More casual and physical than the above.
その話を聞いてぞっとした。
I shuddered with fear when I heard that story.
Describing the bodily sensation when fear strikes suddenly.
All three mean 'be seized with fear', but 襲われる emphasizes the sudden attack, かられる implies being driven by fear, and とらわれる suggests being trapped in fear. 襲われる is the most common and neutral.
突然の地震に恐怖に襲われた。
I was seized with fear by the sudden earthquake.
恐怖にかられて叫んでしまった。
Driven by fear, I ended up screaming.
Literally 'body hair stands on end', a common idiom for a sudden chill of fear. Very natural for horror or shock.
その光景に身の毛がよだった。
The sight made my hair stand on end with fear.
Means 'get goosebumps', used for fear, cold, or excitement. Very common in everyday speech.
怖くて鳥肌が立った。
I was so scared I got goosebumps.
Literally 'spine freezes', a vivid expression for a sudden chill of terror. Often used in written language.
背筋が凍るような悲鳴が聞こえた。
I heard a scream that made my blood run cold.
He was seized with fear for a long time.
Avoid directly translating 'seized' as つかまれる or 捕まえられる. These sound unnatural for emotions. Use the idiomatic phrases above instead.
He was seized with fear for a long time.
Avoid directly translating 'seized' as つかまれる or 捕まえられる. These sound unnatural for emotions. Use the idiomatic phrases above instead.