He felt a sense of fear in the darkness.
A look of fear appeared in her eyes.
After the earthquake, people spent the night in a state of panic.
A look of fear appeared on the girl's face.
She was desperately hiding her fear.
恐れ is a broader, somewhat literary word for fear or dread, whereas 怯え specifically evokes a cowering, trembling fright response.
不安 describes vague anxiety or unease about something uncertain, while 怯え describes an immediate, visible fright at something specific.
安心 means a feeling of relief or peace of mind, the opposite emotional state from 怯え, which is trembling fear.
驚き is neutral surprise at something unexpected, while 怯え specifically carries the sense of fear or dread, not mere astonishment.
be frightened; be scared; be terrified
Kana spelling is standard; usually written in kana.
Kanji form using 怯 (fear, cowardice). Less common than kana, but seen in literary or emphatic contexts.
Variant kanji using 脅 (threaten). Rare; may appear in older texts or as a stylistic choice.
Derived from the verb 怯える (おびえる, 'to be frightened'), which is of native Japanese origin. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji 怯 carries the meaning of fear or cowardice.