怒っている

You can use it for yourself or others. To make it polite, just add desu at the end: 怒っています (okotte imasu). In casual conversation, people usually drop the i. They say okotteru. It is very flexible. You can use it as a question too. Just raise your voice at the end. Okotteru? means 'Are you mad?' It is a simple but powerful way to check the vibe.

Use it when you see someone frowning. Use it when your friend is giving you the silent treatment. It is perfect for texting when a reply is late. You might say it to your partner during a small spat. It works at home when someone eats your pudding. It also works at work when describing a client's mood. Just remember to use the polite version there!

Be careful using this with superiors. Telling your boss okotte imasu ne (you are angry, aren't you) is risky. It can sound like you are pointing out their lack of control. In formal settings, people use softer words. Avoid it if you aren't 100% sure someone is mad. It can sound like an accusation. If you want to be very formal, this phrase is too direct. Japanese culture often values 'reading the air' instead of labeling emotions.

In Japan, showing anger is often seen as losing face. People try to keep a 'poker face' in public. This is the concept of tatemae (public face). Because of this, okotte iru is a heavy phrase. When someone actually admits they are okotte iru, it is serious. Silence is often a bigger sign of anger than shouting. If a Japanese friend stops talking, they might be okotte iru internally. They expect you to notice without them saying it.

Okotteru is the casual, everyday version. Okoru is the dictionary form, meaning 'to get mad.' Okotte imasu is the polite version for strangers or colleagues. If someone is really fuming, you might hear geki-oko. That is older internet slang for being 'super mad.' For a very 'sharp' anger, people use kirete iru. That means someone has 'snapped.'