Translation guide
The English verb 'scare' means to cause fear or alarm. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 怖がらせる (kowagaraseru), but the natural way to express this depends on whether you are scaring someone intentionally, accidentally, or describing something that is scary. This guide covers the main patterns.
Don't scare me like that!
Expressing that a person or thing causes fear in someone else, often as a deliberate act.
The most direct transitive verb meaning 'to scare someone'. It implies causing someone to feel fear. Can be used for both intentional and unintentional scaring.
I accidentally scared my little brother.
He often scares his friends.
Means 'to startle' or 'to surprise' someone, often with a sudden action. It's more about causing a jump scare than deep fear. Commonly used for pranks.
Can mean 'to threaten' or 'to scare'. Often implies intimidation or using fear as a tactic. Less common for simple startling.
Describing the state of being afraid. In Japanese, this is usually expressed with an intransitive verb or adjective, not a passive of 'scare'.
Causing someone or something to leave by frightening them.
Using fear to compel an action.
Pattern meaning 'to scare someone into doing ~'. The verb 脅す (to threaten) is used with the causative form.
Referring to an instance of being scared or a situation that causes fear.
Means 'fear' or 'terror'. Can be used for a scare, but often refers to a deeper fear.
The horror movie really scared me.
Using 怖い (scary) is more natural than saying 'it scared me'.
Don't scare me from behind!
彼はナイフで私を脅かした。
He scared me with a knife.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be scared' or 'to show fear'. Used for a visible reaction of fear.
The dog is scared of thunder.
Adjective meaning 'scary' or 'frightening'. Often used to say something is scary or that you are scared of something.
I'm scared of dark places.
Means 'to be surprised' or 'startled'. Often used for a sudden scare rather than ongoing fear.
I was scared by a sudden loud noise.
Means 'to drive away' or 'to scare off'. Often used for animals or unwanted people.
I scared the cat away.
Literally 'to threaten and drive out'. Emphasizes using fear to make someone leave.
They scared the man off.
He scared me into giving him money.
Similar pattern using 怖がらせる (to scare). Less common but still natural.
Parents sometimes scare their children into obeying.
The accident gave us a big scare.
Means 'surprise' or 'startle'. Suitable for a sudden scare.
She let out a scare (a scream of surprise).
Literally 'a scary experience'. A natural way to say 'a scare'.
I had a scare last night.
It was scary.
驚かす (odorokasu) is for startling someone with a sudden action, like jumping out and saying 'Boo!'. 怖がらせる (kowagaraseru) is for causing fear, which can be more psychological or lasting. Use 驚かす for pranks and 怖がらせる for genuinely frightening someone.
He tried to scare me with a fake spider.