Translation guide
The English word 'outrage' covers strong anger, moral shock, and scandalous acts. Japanese expresses these through nouns for anger and shock, verbs for being outraged, and phrases describing outrageous behavior. The best choice depends on whether you are describing a feeling, a reaction, or an action.
Expressing a feeling of intense anger, often in response to injustice or offense.
A strong noun meaning 'rage' or 'fury'. Often used in formal or written contexts to describe intense anger.
I was outraged by his actions.
General word for 'anger'. Can be used for outrage when modified with intensifiers like 大きな (big) or 強い (strong).
I felt strong outrage at the news.
Implies righteous indignation or resentment, often moral outrage. Slightly formal and literary.
Outrage over the injustice exploded.
Literary or dramatic term for 'rage' or 'wrath'. Rare in everyday speech.
His face was burning with outrage.
Describing a reaction of shock and disapproval at something considered morally wrong or unacceptable.
Verb meaning 'to be indignant' or 'to be outraged'. Commonly used for moral outrage.
People were outraged by the decision.
Literally 'to feel anger'. A common way to express becoming outraged, often with a sense of moral wrong.
Righteous indignation; moral outrage. Used in formal or written contexts.
Referring to an action or event that causes outrage; something shocking and unacceptable.
An outrageous or reckless act, often with social or political implications. Implies a violation of norms.
The policy was called an outrage.
Injustice, cruelty, or an atrocious act. Often used in phrases like 非道な行為 (outrageous act).
Loanword for 'scandal'. Used for events that cause public outrage, especially in media.
Violence, outrage, or disorderly conduct. Literary and somewhat archaic.
Describing the action of making someone feel outraged.
Causative form of 激怒する: 'to enrage' or 'to infuriate'. Directly means to cause outrage.
His words outraged the audience.
Causative of 怒る: 'to make angry'. Less intense than 激怒させる but commonly used.
The remark outraged many people.
Causative of 憤慨する: 'to make indignant'. Suitable for moral outrage.
There is no single Japanese noun that covers all uses of 'outrage'. Using 激怒 for an act or 暴挙 for a feeling will sound unnatural. Choose the word based on whether you mean anger, shock, or an act.
激怒 is pure intense anger, while 憤慨 includes a sense of moral indignation. Use 激怒 for personal fury, and 憤慨 when the anger is based on principles or injustice.
I was outraged by his betrayal. (personal anger)
The decision caused public outrage.
She was outraged by the injustice.
I felt outrage at his rude attitude.
He acted out of moral outrage.
His outrageous act is unforgivable.
The corruption became a huge outrage.
狼藉を働く者を許すな。
Do not forgive those who commit outrages.
The unfair treatment outraged him.
I was outraged by the government's response. (moral indignation)