Beyond ‘Kowai’: 10 Japanese Words For When You’re Freaked Out blog.gaijinpot.com

This Halloween, be more than just scared with these new Japanese words and phrases to express your fear like a pro.
Kawaii to some Japanese, startlingly kowai to those who come from countries where perfectly aligned teeth are the norm.
Grandmas in onsen (which typically don’t allow tattoos) might think you’re kowai, but your friends may think your body art is kawaii.
Useful whether you’re afraid of the dark, heights, snakes, or scary Japanese food.
In this instance, when your liver “freezes” (hiyasu in Japanese), it means that you’re so afraid that you’re terrified.