1To scold, chide, reprimand, or rebuke someone — typically a parent toward a child, teacher toward a student, or superior toward a subordinate — for wrongdoing or a mistake. Carries more of a corrective nuance ('for your own good') than 怒る ('to get angry'). The kanji 叱 became jōyō in 2010, so both 叱る and the kana spelling しかる are widely used in modern writing.
母は宿題をしない私を厳しく叱った。
My mother scolded me sternly for not doing my homework.
先生は遅刻した生徒を職員室で叱った。
The teacher reprimanded the student who was late in the staff room.
子どもをしかるときは、感情的にならないように気をつけている。
When I scold my children, I try not to let emotions take over.
彼は一度も部下を叱ったことがない優しい上司だ。
He's a kind boss who has never once scolded his subordinates.
怒るのではなく、叱るのが大人の役目だ。
An adult's role is not to lose their temper, but to scold constructively.