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恐れ (おそれ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Meanings 1
noun
fear ; anxiety ; uneasiness
Emotional fear, dread, or anxiety about something. Can also imply reverence in some contexts, but primarily used for worry or fright.
彼かれ は 失しっ 敗ぱい の 恐おそ れ に 悩なや まさ れ て いる 。
He is tormented by the fear of failure.
2
noun
risk ; danger ; likelihood
usually written using kana alone
Used for objective risk, danger, or the possibility of something undesirable happening. Often appears in formal warnings or news reports. Usually written in kana for this sense.
3
noun
awe ; reverence
A feeling of deep respect mixed with fear or wonder, often toward something grand, divine, or powerful. Less common in daily conversation; more literary or formal.
Written forms 恐おそ れ Usage 40%
Standard kanji spelling for fear, risk, and awe. High-frequency form.
おそれ Usage 55%
Kana spelling is common for the 'risk/danger/likelihood' sense.
怖おそ れ Usage 2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form for fear/anxiety.
虞おそれ Usage 2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form for risk/danger.
畏おそ れ Usage 1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form for awe/reverence.
Kanji 怖 dreadful, be frightened, fearful 虞 fear, uneasiness, anxiety Similar words 恐きょう 怖ふ 恐怖 is a stronger, more intense fear or terror, often used in psychological or dramatic contexts. 恐れ is a broader term covering fear, anxiety, and risk.
不ふ 安あん 不安 emphasizes a state of unease or anxiety, often without a specific object. 恐れ can be directed at a specific feared thing or event.
Etymology Derived from the verb 恐れる (おそれる, 'to fear'). The noun form 恐れ has been used since Old Japanese to express fear, awe, and later risk.
fear, majestic, graciously
