JLPT N4 Vocabulary – Difference between “怒る” and “叱る”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “怒る” and “叱る”
2. 怒る
3. 叱る
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Q: What’s the difference between “怒る” and “叱る”?
A: Both words are related to emotions and attitudes, but there is a clear difference in their meanings and usage.
怒る (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
Feeling displeased or uncomfortable and unable to tolerate it.
[Examples]
店員の態度に腹が立って怒ってしまいました。
I got angry because of the clerk’s attitude.
何度も同じ失敗をされて、つい怒ってしまいました。
I couldn’t help getting angry after being made to repeat the same mistake over and over.
昔は言うことを聞かずに、よく母を怒らせたものです。
I often made my mother angry when I didn’t listen to what she said back in the day.
“怒る” is a negative emotion that appears when you get angry and feel displeased or uncomfortable. It refers to a state where you cannot suppress your emotions and vent your dissatisfaction directly.
[Examples]
子供がなかなか片づけをしないので怒りました。
My child wouldn’t clean up, so I got angry.
⇒ This shows how the child’s behavior or attitude caused displeasure, leading to an outburst of negative emotion.
彼は今朝からずっと何かに怒っているようです。
He seems to have been angry about something since this morning.
⇒ This indicates a state of irritation that has lasted for a long time, reflecting feelings of dissatisfaction or frustration that show in his attitude.
些細なことで怒ってしまい、あとで反省しました。
I got angry over something trivial and regretted it later.
⇒ This pattern shows that it’s easy to get emotional in certain situations, only to feel regret afterward.
叱る (JLPT N4)
[Meaning]
It means pointing out or expressing disapproval of the bad behavior or attitude of someone of lower status in a strong tone. It carries the intention of correcting the other person and is often used in educational or instructional settings.
[Examples]
危ないことをした子供に、二度としないように叱りました。
I scolded the child for doing something dangerous, telling them never to do it again.
先生は遅刻した生徒を叱りました。
The teacher scolded the student for being late.
上司に提出期限を守らなかったことを叱られました。
I was scolded by my boss for not meeting the submission deadline.
The main difference from “怒る” is that “叱る” involves using a stronger tone to point out and correct the mistakes or behavior of someone of lower status. It is often used in educational or instructional settings, and it reflects a sense of caring for the other person’s growth.
[Examples]
ジョンさんは宿題を忘れて先生に叱られました。
John forgot his homework and was scolded by his teacher.
⇒ This is an example of the teacher pointing out the forgotten homework to encourage John to reflect and improve.
同じ失敗を繰り返す後輩を叱ってしまいました。
I scolded my junior colleague for repeating the same mistake.
⇒ This shows how I used a strong tone to help the junior colleague grow and improve.
部活動の練習をさぼった生徒を叱りました。
I scolded a student who skipped club practice.
⇒ This example shows how a strong tone is used to maintain team discipline and raise the student’s awareness.
Let’s Compare
In the following situations, which word do you think is more appropriate?
[Example ①]
あまり怒ってばかりいると、血圧が上がりますよ。
あまり叱ってばかりいると、血圧が上がりますよ。
[Example ②]
後輩のことを思って怒ったけど、伝わらなかったようです。
後輩のことを思って叱ったけど、伝わらなかったようです。
The correct answers are ① “怒って” and ② “叱って.”
① refers to a situation where you can’t control your emotions, showing that it’s affecting your physical health. In this case, the emotional “怒る” is the correct choice.
② starts with “out of concern for my junior,” which shows that the action is motivated by education and growth. So, the rational “叱る” is the right choice.
In this way, “怒る” is an act of venting your emotions directly, while “叱る” is an act of cautioning someone out of concern for them.
Summary
| Feeling | Meaning | State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 怒る | Emotional | Feeling displeased or uncomfortable and unable to tolerate it | Feeling displeased or uncomfortable, unable to hold it in |
| 叱る | Rational | Pointing out or expressing disapproval of the bad behavior of a subordinate in a strong tone | Pointing out or expressing disapproval in a strong tone when someone of lower rank or status does something wrong |
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. 叱る
子供のことを考えて、間違ったことはちゃんと叱ることにしています。
I make it a point to scold my child when they do something wrong, thinking about what’s best for them.
*The phrase “thinking about my child” shows an awareness of education and growth, so “叱る” is the correct choice.
A. 怒って
後輩の話を聞く態度が悪くて、我慢できず怒ってしまいました。
I couldn’t stand the way my junior was listening, so I ended up getting angry.
*The phrase “couldn’t stand it” shows a state of being unable to control one’s emotions, so “怒って” is the appropriate choice.
A. 怒って
父は顔を真っ赤にして、弟を怒っています。
My father is bright red in the face, angrily scolding my little brother.
*“Being bright red in the face with anger” is a common expression that shows he’s emotional, so “怒って” is the correct choice.
A. 叱る
生徒のために、時には叱ることも大切です。
For the sake of the students, it’s sometimes important to scold them.
*The phrase “for the sake of the students” shows a consideration for education and growth, so “叱る” is the correct choice.
Similer Articles
- JLPT N2・N4 Grammar – The difference between ”〜にくい”, ”〜づらい” and “〜がたい”
- JLPT N4・N5 Vocabulary – The difference between “聞けない” and “聞こえない”
- JLPT N4・N5 Grammar – The difference between “〜けど” and “〜のに”
- JLPT N3・N4 Grammar – The difference between “〜ように” and “〜通りに”
- JLPT N4 Vocabulary – The difference between “何でも” and “何も”
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