Translation and Meaning of: 怒る - ikaru

If you've ever watched a Japanese anime or drama, you've probably heard someone shouting 怒る (いかる) in a scene of intense anger. This word, which means "to get angry" or "to be angry," is a powerful term in the Japanese emotional vocabulary. In this article, we'll explore the etymology, everyday usage, and even the pictogram behind this expressive kanji. Additionally, you'll learn practical phrases to include in your Anki or other spaced repetition systems, as Suki Nihongo is the largest online Japanese dictionary.

Many people search on Google not only for the meaning of 怒る, but also its origin, how to differentiate it from similar words, and even tips to memorize its kanji. If you have ever confused 怒る with 起こる (which means "to happen"), don't worry — by the end of this text, that doubt will disappear. Let's uncover the secrets of this word that appears so often in anime fights and real discussions in Japan.

The Kanji 怒 and its pictographic origin

The character 怒 is a masterpiece of Chinese writing, combining two visual elements that tell a story. The radical 心 (heart) appears at the bottom, indicating that anger is an emotion that arises from the chest. The upper part, 奴, originally represented a subdued person — imagine someone with clenched fists in indignation. It's no wonder that this kanji conveys a feeling of contained rage ready to explode.

Interestingly, in ancient China, this same character could also mean "vigorous" or "impetuous," showing how anger was seen as a powerful force. When the Japanese adopted the kanji, they mainly retained the negative emotional meaning. In traditional calligraphy, you can see artists emphasizing the downward strokes of the character, as if visually representing the energy of anger flowing downward.

Everyday usage: when do Japanese people actually say いかる?

Unlike what animes may suggest, 怒る is not used all the time in real Japan. It is a strong word, reserved for situations where anger is intense and justified. A boss may 怒る with an employee who made a serious mistake, or a parent may use the term when scolding a child for flagrant disobedience. In everyday relationships, Japanese people tend to use softer expressions like 不機嫌 (bad mood) to avoid direct confrontations.

But there is a fascinating cultural detail: 怒る often appears in contexts where someone is angry in defense of another person. For example, in a classic dorama scene, the protagonist might 怒る when she sees her friend being wronged. This nuance of "righteous anger" is part of the Japanese concept of 義憤 (gifun) — moral indignation. Therefore, in certain situations, showing 怒る can even be seen as a virtue.

Tips for memorizing and not getting confused

Anyone studying Japanese has experienced the embarrassment of reading 怒る as "okoru" only to find out it's actually "ikaru." An infallible technique is to associate the "I" in "ikari" (anger) with the "I" in いかる. Another tip is to create a mental image: imagine the heart (心) underneath the kanji boiling with rage, with steam rising from the top. It works better than memorizing in isolation!

For those who use flashcards, a great phrase to memorize is: 「彼は遅刻して先生に怒られた」 (Kare wa chikoku shite sensei ni ikarareta) — "He arrived late and the teacher got angry at him". Add it to your Anki with an image of a red-faced teacher and you will hardly forget it. And be careful: don’t confuse it with 起こる (okoru), which has a similar pronunciation but totally different kanji and meaning. A mix-up that can lead to quite embarrassing situations!

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 怒る

• 怒る - Infinitive form, not conjugated
• 怒ります - Polite, present manner
• 怒りました - Polite form, past tense
• 怒るな - Imperative form, negative
• 怒れる - potential form

Synonyms and similar words

• 腹を立てる (hara o tateru) - To get angry
• 怒り出す (ikari dasu) - Start to get irritated
• 激怒する (geki do suru) - To become extremely furious
• かっとなる (katto naru) - Explode with anger
• かんかんになる (kankan ni naru) - To get furious (in a visibly irritated state)

怒る

Romaji: ikaru
Kana: いかる
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n4, jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: get angry; be angry

Meaning in English: to get angry;to be angry

Definition: One of the emotions: feeling angry.

Example Sentences - (怒る) ikaru

See below some example sentences:

彼女の顔付きはとても怒っていた。

Kanojo no kaozuki wa totemo okotte ita

Her look was very angry.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 顔付き (kao tsuki) - means "facial expression" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 怒っていた (okotte ita) - verb meaning "to be angry" in the past continuous

遅刻すると先生に怒られる。

Chikoku suru to sensei ni okorareru

If you are late, you will be angry with the teacher.

If you are late, you will be angry with the teacher.

• 遅刻する - be late
• と - particle indicating joint action
• 先生 - Teacher
• に - Particle indicating the target of the action
• 怒られる - be reprimanded

怒りを抑えることが大切です。

Okori wo osaeru koto ga taisetsu desu

It is important to control anger.

It is important to suppress anger.

• 怒りを抑える - It means "control anger".
• ことが - It is a particle that indicates that the previous phrase is a noun.
• 大切 - means "important".
• です - it is a particle that indicates that the sentence is in the present and is formal.