Meaning

Primary

To Be Scared

Alternatives

To Be Afraid Of, To Fear

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

怖い is "scary." This is a verb version, making it to be scared or to be afraid of.

Reading

こわがる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading comes from 怖い.

Context

Context Sentences

うちの犬はカミナリを怖がるんだ。

My dog is afraid of thunder.

ホラー映画は妹が怖がるから、家では観れないんだよね。

I can't watch horror movies at home because my sister gets scared.

怖がる人が多いけど、実はその虫は無害なんですよ。

Many people are afraid of it, but that insect is actually harmless.

私の主人は逆さ睫毛の手術を受けるのをとても怖がっていたんですよ。

My husband was very scared of getting surgery for his ingrown eyelashes.

Kanji Composition