恐おそるべき

お

そ

る

べ

き

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun-modifying (irregular)

terrible; dreadful; horrifying

Describes something that inspires fear, shock, or strong negative emotion. Used prenominally to modify nouns.

それは恐おそるべき事じ故こだった

。

That was a terrible accident.

彼かれは恐おそるべき形ぎょう相そうでにらんだ。

He glared with a terrifying look on his face.

2

noun-modifying (irregular)

astonishing; staggering; tremendous

Expresses amazement at something extraordinary in scale, degree, or impact. Can be positive or neutral depending on context.

彼かの女じょは恐おそるべき速はやさで問もん題だいを解といた。
She solved the problems at an astonishing speed.
その計けい画かくには恐おそるべき費ひ用ようがかかる。
The plan requires a staggering amount of money.

Usage patterns

恐おそるべき〈事こと〉a dreadful/shocking fact or matter
調ちょう査さの結けっ果か、恐おそるべき事じ実じつが判はん明めいした。
The investigation revealed a shocking fact.
恐おそるべきスピードa tremendous, astonishing speed
彼かれは恐おそるべきスピードで成せい長ちょうした。
He grew at a tremendous speed.
恐おそるべき威い力りょくterrifying power or force
この台たい風ふうは恐おそるべき威い力りょくを持もっている。
This typhoon has terrifying power.
恐おそるべき〈人ひと〉a formidable, awe-inspiring person
彼かれは恐おそるべき人じん物ぶつだと評ひょう判ばんだ。
He has a reputation as a formidable figure.

Kanji

恐fear, dread, awe
畏fear, majestic, graciously

Related words

恐おそろしいN3sense 1
恐ろしい is the everyday i-adjective for 'frightening' and can stand alone as a predicate, while 恐るべき is a literary, prenominal-only form used to modify a noun with heightened formality.
驚おどろくべき sense 2
驚くべき shares the same 〜べき literary construction as 恐るべき but focuses purely on surprise or amazement rather than fear.
凄すさまじいN1sense 1
凄まじい describes something of overwhelming intensity (good or bad) and is a common i-adjective, whereas 恐るべき is a fixed literary phrase used only before a noun.
すごいN5sense 2
すごい is a casual, everyday word for 'amazing' or 'terrible', while 恐るべき is far more formal and dramatic in tone.

Written forms

恐おそるべき
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
畏おそるべき
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; 畏 conveys awe or reverence, but this spelling is seldom used in modern Japanese.

Etymology

Derived from the classical verb 恐る (osoru, 'to fear') + the auxiliary べき (beki, 'should'), literally meaning 'should be feared'. The form fossilized as a prenominal adjective.