Is こら a lot more rude than ほら?


From early on, I've used `こら` and `ほら` somewhat interchangeably. They both
mean "hey!"

I picked them up from friends early on without really having a sense of the
difference.

Now, after some time, I've come to understand that `ほら` is simply "hey!", as
in just getting someone's attention, and `こら` is "hey" with a flavour of
"dude, what the hell?" mixed in.

The thing is, I still tend to slip and use `こら` when maybe I should say `ほら`,
and vice versa. Old habits die hard.

My question is, when I mix up and say `こら` instead of `ほら`, how bad is it?




[こら](http://www.excite.co.jp/dictionary/japanese/?search=%E3%81%93%E3%82%89&match=beginswith&itemid=DJR_kora_-020)
is uttered usually when the speaker is scolding or blaming someone.
[ほら](http://www.excite.co.jp/dictionary/japanese/?search=%E3%81%BB%E3%82%89&match=beginswith&itemid=DJR_hora_-030)
is used to draw someone’s attention to something. They are not
interchangeable.

I do not know how bad it is to mix them up, especially if other people know
that you speak Japanese as a foreign language, but using こら in an
inappropriate situation can be rude and may give the impression that you
consider that you are superior to the addressee.




[こら](http://www.excite.co.jp/dictionary/japanese/?search=%E3%81%93%E3%82%89&match=beginswith&itemid=DJR_kora_-020)
is uttered usually when the speaker is scolding or blaming someone.
[ほら](http://www.excite.co.jp/dictionary/japanese/?search=%E3%81%BB%E3%82%89&match=beginswith&itemid=DJR_hora_-030)
is used to draw someone’s attention to something. They are not
interchangeable.

I do not know how bad it is to mix them up, especially if other people know
that you speak Japanese as a foreign language, but using こら in an
inappropriate situation can be rude and may give the impression that you
consider that you are superior to the addressee.

