Translation guide
The English word 'dreadful' describes something extremely bad, unpleasant, or causing fear. In Japanese, the translation depends on whether you mean 'very bad/unpleasant' (quality, experience) or 'inspiring dread/fear' (frightening). The most common use is for everyday complaints about something terrible.
The weather is dreadful.
a dreadful monster
Expressing that something is terrible, awful, or extremely bad in a general sense, often about experiences, weather, performance, etc.
The most common and versatile word for 'dreadful' in the sense of 'terrible' or 'awful'. Can describe weather, pain, a situation, a person's behavior, etc.
The weather is dreadful today, isn't it?
His attitude was dreadful.
Literally 'the worst'. Very common in casual speech to mean 'dreadful' or 'the absolute worst'. Stronger than ひどい.
Means 'cruel' or 'brutal', but can be used for 'dreadful' when emphasizing the severity or cruelty of a situation. Stronger emotional weight.
Describing something that causes a feeling of dread, fear, or horror, such as a monster, a sound, or an event.
The standard word for 'dreadful' in the sense of 'frightening' or 'terrifying'. Can also mean 'terrible' in a more serious, fear-inducing way.
A dreadful monster appeared.
More common for 'scary' or 'frightening' in everyday speech. Can be used for 'dreadful' when the focus is on fear rather than general badness.
Means 'tremendous' or 'dreadful' in an overwhelming sense. Can be used for both fear and intensity.
Using 'dreadful' as an intensifier meaning 'very great' or 'extreme', often with negative nouns like 'mess', 'noise', 'pity'.
The adjective ひどい can directly modify nouns to mean 'dreadful' as an intensifier.
It was a dreadful mess.
I couldn't sleep because of the dreadful noise.
Means 'outrageous' or 'dreadful' in the sense of 'unthinkable'. Stronger and more emotional.
That's a dreadful mistake.
In British English, 'dreadful' can be a mild, almost humorous complaint. In Japanese, ひどい is the closest, but it can sound stronger. Use ちょっとひどい to soften it.
This is a bit dreadful, isn't it?
ひどい is for 'terrible' quality/experience; 恐ろしい is for 'dreadful' in the sense of fear/dread. Don't use 恐ろしい for a bad meal unless it was frightening.
昨日のテスト、最悪だった。
Yesterday's test was dreadful.
This movie is dreadful.
それは酷い話だ。
That's a dreadful story.
The earthquake was a dreadful experience.
あの映画は本当に怖かった。
That movie was truly dreadful (scary).
It was a dreadful storm.