Translation guide
The act of angrily telling someone they have done wrong. Japanese has many words for scolding, ranging from mild verbal reprimands to harsh yelling, and the appropriate choice depends on the relationship, severity, and context.
To express that someone is being scolded in a general sense, often by a parent, teacher, or superior.
The most common and neutral verb for scolding, used when someone in authority (parent, teacher, boss) reprimands someone for doing something wrong. It implies a corrective intent.
My mother scolded me for being late.
The teacher scolded the students.
Means 'to get angry' and can imply scolding when used in the context of expressing anger towards someone's actions. It often carries a stronger emotional tone than 叱る and may not always be corrective.
Can simply mean 'to get angry' without the act of scolding. Context is needed.
My father got angry (and scolded me) when he saw my grades.
A variant kanji for 叱る, sometimes used in official contexts or older texts. Same meaning and reading.
I was scolded by my boss.
To describe a severe, loud, or angry scolding, often involving shouting.
To shout angrily at someone; to yell at. This implies a loud, harsh scolding, often in a fit of anger.
The boss yelled at me loudly.
To scold severely; to give someone a dressing-down. Stronger than 叱る, implying a thorough and harsh reprimand.
To nag or scold persistently in a grumbling, irritating manner. Often used for a parent or spouse who constantly finds fault.
My mother nags me every day.
To refer to the scolding itself as an event or the words used.
Noun form of 叱る, meaning a scolding or reprimand. Often used in phrases like お叱りを受ける (to receive a scolding).
He received a scolding from the teacher.
A scolding, complaint, or nagging. Often implies a petty or constant fault-finding, like a parent's nagging.
A lecture or sermon; can mean a long, preachy scolding. Often used when someone gives a moralizing reprimand.
To express the experience of being scolded, often from the recipient's perspective.
Passive form of 叱る, meaning 'to be scolded'. This is the most natural way to say you got scolded.
I forgot my homework and got scolded.
Passive of 怒る, meaning 'to get yelled at' or 'to have someone get angry at you'. More emotional than 叱られる.
I lied and got yelled at by my girlfriend.
Passive form using the variant kanji. Same as 叱られる.
He was scolded by the teacher.
To describe a formal reprimand, such as in a workplace or official setting.
叱る (shikaru) implies a corrective, often calm scolding from a position of authority, like a parent or teacher. 怒る (okoru) means 'to get angry' and can include scolding, but it emphasizes the emotional state. Using 怒る may imply the scolder lost their temper, while 叱る suggests a more controlled reprimand.
In very casual conversation, Japanese speakers might simply say 怒られた (I got yelled at) or 注意された (I was warned/cautioned) instead of using a direct equivalent of 'scold'. Overusing 叱る in casual speech can sound stiff.
He yelled at the children.
The department head gave the employee who made a mistake a severe scolding.
I'm fed up with my father's scolding.
母から長い説教をされた。
I got a long lecture/scolding from my mother.
He received a disciplinary reprimand.