怖(こわ)がる

こわがる
godan verb
to be afraid of; to fear
1. to be afraid; to fear; to show fear
Used to describe when someone (typically a third person) displays behavior indicating they are afraid.
犬(いぬ)を怖(こわ)がる子(こ)どもが多(おお)い。
Many children are afraid of dogs.
注射(ちゅうしゃ)を怖(こわ)がらないで。
Don't be afraid of the injection.
彼(かれ)は何(なに)も怖(こわ)がらない性格(せいかく)だ。
He has a personality that fears nothing.

VERB TYPE:
他動詞(たどうし) (transitive verb)

CONJUGATION:

Godan verb (五段動詞(ごだんどうし)) ending in る

  • 怖(こわ)がらない (negative)
  • 怖(こわ)がって (te-form)
  • 怖(こわ)がった (past)

GRAMMAR NOTE:
This is the -がる form of the i-adjective 怖(こわ)い. The -がる suffix converts adjectives describing internal feelings into verbs that describe observable behavior.

怖(こわ)い vs 怖(こわ)がる:

  • 怖(こわ)い - (I am) scared, frightening
  • 怖(こわ)がる - to be afraid of, to show fear (observed behavior)

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 〜を怖(こわ)がる - to be afraid of ~
  • 怖(こわ)がらせる - to frighten, to scare (causative)
  • 怖(こわ)がり - a scaredy-cat, timid person (noun form)

RELATED -がる VERBS:

  • 欲(ほ)しがる - to want (from 欲(ほ)しい)
  • 恥(は)ずかしがる - to be shy (from 恥(は)ずかしい)
  • 寂(さび)しがる - to feel lonely (from 寂(さび)しい)
general
Added 2026.1.20 19:31 · Revised 2026.2.19 21:32
07500/07574_kowagaru