Japanese · Emotions & Feelings
怖い
kowai
Scary / Frightening
Beginneradjective
Definition
Describes something that causes fear. Also used to describe a person who is strict or intimidating. 怖い (kowai) means frightening, while 恐れる (osoreru) means to fear something.
Example
お化け屋敷はとても怖かったです。
The haunted house was very scary.
Etymology
怖い (kowai) originates from the word 怖, which has connotations of fear and fright. The term has consistently conveyed fear throughout its historical usage.
How & Where It’s Used
怖い is used in informal conversations and written forms to express fear or something frightening. It is universally recognizable across Japan.