吠ほえる

ほ

え

る

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

Used for the vocalizations of dogs, wolves, and other animals. Covers barking, howling, yelping, and roaring depending on the animal.

夜よ中なかに犬いぬがずっと吠ほえている。
A dog has been barking all night.

オオカミ

が

遠とお

く

で

吠ほ

える

声こえ

が

聞き

こえ

た

。

We could hear wolves howling in the distance.

2

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

howl (wind); roar (sea)

Describes the loud, deep sound of wind or the roaring of the sea. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts.

嵐あらしで風かぜが激はげしく吠ほえている。
The wind is howling fiercely in the storm.
波なみが岩いわ場ばで吠ほえるように砕くだけ散ちる。
The waves crash against the rocks with a roar.

3

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

yell; shout; cry out

Used for humans shouting or crying out loudly, often with strong emotion such as anger or pain. Can imply a rough, uncontrolled outburst.

彼かれは怒いかりに任まかせて大おお声ごえで吠ほえた。
He yelled out in anger.
痛いたみで思おもわず吠ほえてしまった。
I cried out involuntarily from the pain.

Written forms

吠ほえるUsage76%
Standard kanji spelling for barking, howling, and roaring.
ほえるUsage14%
吼ほえるUsage9%
Alternative kanji, often used for roaring or howling of animals and natural forces.
咆ほえるUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

吠bark, howl, cry
吼bark, bay, howl
咆bark, roar, get angry

Similar words

鳴なく
鳴く is a general verb for animal cries (birds, cats, etc.), while 吠える specifically refers to louder, more aggressive vocalizations like barking, howling, or roaring.
叫さけぶ
叫ぶ means to shout or scream, often with a clearer purpose or message. 吠える for humans implies a more rough, emotional, or animal-like outburst.

Etymology

The verb 吠える is a native Japanese word. The kanji 吠 combines the mouth radical 口 with 犬 (dog), suggesting a dog's bark. The reading ほえる is of native origin and not derived from Chinese.