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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "im scared" in Japanese?
怖いです
kowai desu
In Japanese, "im scared" is 怖いです (kowai desu).
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Pronunciation
Say koh-WAI des, with kowai's diphthong gliding quickly from 'ko' into a wide-eyed 'wai'.
Writing and usage
怖いです is written using kanji. It's a phrase, and this word is also taught inside the Noun Town language learning game, where it appears in interactive lessons alongside hundreds of other everyday words.
Example sentence
im scared
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How to remember 怖いです
Kowai sounds like 'co-why' — picture asking 'co, why' in a shaky voice right before something scary jumps out.
Related words
- im happy 私は幸せです watashi ha shiawase desu
- im sad 悲しいです kanashii desu
- im angry 怒ってる ikatsu teru
- im excited 楽しみです tanoshimi desu
- im nervous 緊張しています kinchoushi teimasu
- im worried 心配です shinpai desu
- im confused 混乱しています konran shiteimasu
- im bored 退屈だ taikutsu da
- im in love 恋をしている koi woshiteiru
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 怖いです
How do you pronounce 怖いです?
Say koh-WAI des, with kowai's diphthong gliding quickly from 'ko' into a wide-eyed 'wai'.
Is 怖いです formal or casual?
怖いです is a common everyday expression. Context and tone of voice matter more than the words themselves for how formal it sounds.
How is 怖いです written in Japanese?
怖いです is written using kanji. Romanised, it reads as kowai desu.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.
"Im scared" in other languages
Curated by Callan Ratcliffe
This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Japanese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.
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