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JAPANESE VERB

こわがる

怖がる

to be scared

  • #219 most used
  • Godan verb (u-verb)

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present and future

now, habits, and what is to come

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI am scared
NegativeI am not scared

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI was scared
NegativeI was not scared

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formbeing scared, and…
Doing now (て います)I am being scared
Please (て ください)please be scared

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can be scared
NegativeI can’t be scared

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to be scared
NegativeI don’t want to be scared

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s be scared

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

  1. If (ば) if I am scared
  2. If, when (たら) if I am scared

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

  1. Do it (なさい) be scared (do it)
  2. Plain command be scared!
  3. Please don’t please don’t be scared

Passive and causative

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form Polite Plain
Passive
Causative

How to use こわがる

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present and future

    むすめ は かみなり を とても こわがります。

    My daughter is really scared of thunder.

  2. Past

    いぬ は はなび の おと を こわがりました。

    The dog was scared of the sound of the fireworks.

  3. Te-form

    あかちゃん が しらない ひと を こわがって います。

    The baby is scared of the stranger.

  4. Potential

    そんな に こわがって いたら、 なに も できません よ。

    If you're that scared, you can't do anything.

  5. Want to

    もう なに も こわがりたくない。

    I don't want to be afraid of anything any more.

  6. Volitional

    こわがらないで、 いっしょ に のろう。

    Don't be scared, let's ride it together.

  7. Conditional

    こわがったら、 まけ だ よ。

    If you get scared, you lose.

  8. Commands and requests

    こわがらないで。 この いぬ は やさしい よ。

    Don't be scared. This dog is gentle.

  9. Passive and causative

    おおきい こえ を だす と、 こども に こわがられます。

    If you raise your voice, the children will be scared of you.

Good to know

  • こわがる is for someone else's fear, the one you can see; for your own, say こわい です.
  • What scares them takes を: いぬ を こわがる.
  • Nobody sets out to be scared, so the potential and volitional sentences show こわがる in its negative, beside another verb.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).