Translation guide
The act of making someone afraid or timid, often to influence their behavior. Japanese expresses this through nouns, verbs, and descriptive phrases, with nuances ranging from psychological pressure to physical threats.
The act of intimidating someone, making them feel fear or timidity.
The most common and direct noun for intimidation, often implying threats or coercion. Used in legal and everyday contexts.
彼は脅迫で逮捕された。
He was arrested for intimidation.
脅迫に屈してはいけない。
You must not give in to intimidation.
Intimidation through an overbearing attitude or presence, often without explicit threats. Focuses on psychological pressure.
上司の威圧的な態度に耐えられなかった。
I couldn't stand my boss's intimidating attitude.
A more colloquial noun for threat or intimidation. Often used in everyday speech.
それはただの脅しだよ。
That's just intimidation.
The action of intimidating a person.
The most common verb for 'to intimidate' or 'to threaten'. Can be used for both verbal threats and menacing behavior.
彼はナイフで私を脅した。
He intimidated me with a knife.
脅さないでください。
Please don't intimidate me.
To intimidate through authority or presence, often without direct threats. More formal than 脅す.
彼は部下を威圧することで知られている。
He is known for intimidating his subordinates.
Literally 'to make someone scared'. A more general term that can imply intimidation in context.
彼の視線が私を怖がらせた。
His stare intimidated me.
Describing something or someone that causes intimidation.
The standard adjective for 'intimidating', often describing a person's demeanor or atmosphere.
彼は威圧的な人物だ。
He is an intimidating person.
その建物は威圧的な外観をしている。
The building has an intimidating appearance.
Common word for 'scary' or 'frightening', often used to describe intimidating people or situations.
Intimidation that is more subtle, often involving social or psychological pressure.
Pressure, often used in contexts of social or psychological intimidation. Can be combined with verbs like かける (to apply).
彼は周囲からの圧力に負けた。
He succumbed to intimidation from those around him.
To corner someone psychologically, a form of intimidation through mental pressure.
彼は質問で相手を精神的に追い詰めた。
He intimidated his opponent by cornering them psychologically with questions.
Intimidation caused by someone's physical stature or imposing appearance.
To give off an intimidating aura, often due to size or demeanor.
彼は威圧感を与える体格をしている。
He has an intimidating physique.
Overwhelming force or presence that can be intimidating, often used positively for impressive power.
その選手の迫力に圧倒された。
I was overwhelmed by the player's intimidating presence.
脅迫 (きょうはく) implies explicit threats or coercion, often with legal implications. 威圧 (いあつ) is more about an overbearing attitude or psychological pressure without direct threats. Use 脅迫 for criminal intimidation, 威圧 for a boss's domineering behavior.
Avoid directly translating 'intimidation' as 威嚇 (いかく) in most contexts. 威嚇 is more specific to military or animal threat displays (e.g., a dog growling). For general human intimidation, use 脅迫 or 威圧.
That teacher is intimidating.