Translation guide
To make someone feel afraid or scared. Japanese uses different expressions depending on whether you startle someone, instill deep fear, or threaten them.
To cause a sudden, often short-lived, fright or surprise.
The most common and versatile word for startling or scaring someone, often unintentionally or playfully.
急に後ろから驚かさないでよ。
Don't suddenly frighten me from behind.
大きな音が彼女を驚かせた。
The loud noise frightened her.
Very common in casual speech; implies causing surprise or a jump scare.
わざとびっくりさせないで。
Don't purposely frighten me.
Can mean to startle or to threaten; context determines whether it's a sudden scare or intimidation.
彼はよく友達を脅かして遊ぶ。
He often frightens his friends for fun.
To cause deep, lasting fear or dread, often intentionally.
Directly means 'to make someone feel afraid'; used for both physical and psychological fear.
その話は子供たちを怖がらせた。
That story frightened the children.
彼の怒った顔が私を怖がらせた。
His angry face frightened me.
A stronger, more formal word for causing terror or extreme fear.
その映画は観客を恐怖させた。
The movie frightened the audience.
Implies making someone cower or tremble with fear; more literary.
暗闇が彼女を怯えさせた。
The darkness frightened her.
To frighten someone into doing or not doing something, often with words or actions.
To threaten or intimidate; often used for coercion.
彼はナイフで私を脅した。
He frightened me with a knife.
脅して金を奪った。
He frightened him into giving up his money.
Formal term for threatening or blackmailing; often used in legal contexts.
彼は脅迫されて証言を変えた。
He was frightened into changing his testimony.
To cause someone or something to leave by scaring them.
To drive away or scare off; used for animals, pests, or people.
犬を追い払ってください。
Please frighten the dog away.
鳥を追い払うためにかかしを立てた。
They put up a scarecrow to frighten away the birds.
To frighten someone into leaving a place.
彼らはその家族を脅して追い出した。
They frightened the family out of the house.
While 怖がらせる is a direct translation, it can sound unnatural for sudden scares. Use 驚かす or びっくりさせる for startle-type frights.
驚かす (odorokasu) is for startling or surprising, often without malice. 脅す (odosu) implies a threat or intimidation, often with a demand.