Imagine someone loses their temper at you, a parent corrects a child’s behaviour, or a boss shouts across the office. In English, “getting angry,” “scolding,” and “yelling” each describe a different shade of anger — and so does Japanese. Learners often muddle 怒る (okoru), 叱る (shikaru), and 怒鳴る (donaru). Here is a clear breakdown of what sets them apart.
Yuka怒る・叱る・怒鳴るってどう違うの？(What is the difference between okoru, shikaru, and donaru?)
Rei怒るは感情的に怒ること、叱るは相手のために注意すること、怒鳴るは大声で怒鳴ることだよ。(Okoru is getting angry emotionally, shikaru is correcting someone for their benefit, and donaru is shouting at someone.)
At a Glance: 怒る vs 叱る vs 怒鳴る
| Word | Reading | Core meaning | Key nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 怒る | okoru | get angry | Emotional — for oneself, may be unreasonable |
| 叱る | shikaru | scold / tell off | Corrective — for the other person’s benefit |
| 怒鳴る | donaru | yell / shout at | Volume-focused — loud, intense outburst |
怒る (okoru) — Get Angry
怒る means to get angry at someone or something. The kanji contains 心 (heart/emotion), hinting that this is an emotional reaction centred on the speaker’s own feelings rather than concern for the other person. When a parent 怒る at a child, it is a personal emotional release — not necessarily for the child’s growth.
Sample
Yuka一回もお父さんに怒られたことなかったかも？ (I wonder my dad might’ve never got angry at me even once.) (ikkai mo otōsan ni okorareta koto nakatta kamo?)
Reiそれは、彼氏が怒るのも無理ないって。 (It’s understandable that your boyfriend got angry.) (sore wa, kareshi ga okoru nomo muri naitte.)
Yuka何それ？怒るよ!?草 (What? Are you trying to make me mad? haha) (nani sore? okoru yo!? kusa)
叱る (shikaru) — Scold / Tell Someone Off
叱る means to tell someone off with the purpose of correcting their behaviour for their own good. A teacher who 叱る a student is acting out of care and responsibility — they admit what the student did was wrong and want to guide them. This is why 叱る is considered a more mature and thoughtful response than 怒る. The passive form is 叱られる (to be scolded).
Sample
Rei上司は部下の振る舞いを叱りました。 (The boss told his subordinate off for the subordinate’s behaviour.) (jōshi wa buka no furumai wo shikari mashita.)
Reiなんでゆかちゃんはお母さんに叱られたの？ (Why did Yuka get told off by her mom?) (nande Yuka chan wa okāsan ni shikarareta no?)
Yuka昨日、学校から帰ってくるのが遅かったからお母さんに叱られたよ。 (I got told off by mom for coming home late from school yesterday.) (kinō, gakkō kara kaette kuru no ga osokatta kara okāsan ni shikarareta yo.)
怒鳴る (donaru) — Yell / Shout At Someone
怒鳴る means to yell or shout at someone in anger. While 怒る and 叱る can be expressed quietly, 怒鳴る always involves a loud, raised voice — it is the most intense of the three. The passive form is 怒鳴られる (to be yelled at).
Sample
Yukaさっき、体育の先生に怒鳴られたよ。 (I got yelled at by the PE teacher a while ago.) (sakki, taiiku no sensei ni donarareta yo.)
Rei一昨日、上司に怒鳴られました。 (I got yelled at by my boss the day before yesterday.) (ototoi, jōshi ni donarare mashita.)
Yuka弟を怒鳴らないでください。 (Please don’t yell at my brother.) (otōto wo donaranaide kudasai.)
Quick Quiz: Fill in the Blank
Choose 怒る, 叱る, or 怒鳴る for each situation.
- A teacher calmly corrects a student’s mistake for the student’s benefit. → _______
- Someone loses control and shouts at the top of their voice. → _______
- A person gets frustrated and feels angry — purely for their own emotional reasons. → _______
Answers: 1. 叱る 2. 怒鳴る 3. 怒る
Knowing which word to use makes your Japanese sound more precise. Remember: 叱る comes from care, 怒る comes from emotion, and 怒鳴る comes with volume.
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