Usage patterns 〈 事こと 〉 への 恐おそ れ fear of ~
He couldn't take on the new job because of his fear of failure.
〈 事こと 〉 の 恐おそ れが 強つよ い the risk of ~ is high
There is a high risk of flooding due to the typhoon.
〈 事こと 〉 への 恐おそ れを 抱いだ く to feel awe/reverence toward ~
She climbed the mountain feeling a sense of awe toward the great nature around her.
〈 事こと 〉 に 恐おそ れを 抱いだ く to harbor a fear of ~
The child harbored a fear of the dark.
Expressions· 10 恐おそ れがある there is a risk of; there is a danger of; be liable to 恐おそ れながら with all due respect; most humbly 恐おそ れをなす be scared; be frightened; be intimidated 恐おそ れ 入い ります I'm very sorry (for the trouble); thank you very much; I'm honored Show 3 more Show fewer 恐おそ れ 入い りますが sorry to trouble you, but ...; excuse me, but ... See all 10 in Explore →
Kanji 怖 dreadful, be frightened, fearful 虞 fear, uneasiness, anxiety 畏 fear, majestic, graciously Related words· 8 恐怖 describes a stronger, more visceral terror or dread, while 恐れ is a broader term covering fear, anxiety, or risk.
危険 states plainly that something is dangerous, while 恐れ (in its risk sense) frames it as a possibility that something bad may happen.
畏怖 is a literary word for awe mixed with fear toward something overwhelming, closely matching the reverence sense of 恐れ but even more formal.
不安 expresses a vague, objectless unease, whereas 恐れ can be directed at a specific feared thing or event.
Show 4 more Show fewer 心配 is everyday worry about someone or something's wellbeing, while 恐れ carries a stronger sense of dread or fear.
おそれ is typically used for negative or worrying outcomes (雨が降るおそれがある ), while 可能性 is neutral and works for both good and bad outcomes.
恐れ is a broader, somewhat literary word for fear or dread, whereas 怯え specifically evokes a cowering, trembling fright response.
恐れ often means 'the possibility (of something bad happening)' as in 感染の恐れ , overlapping with 危険性 but carrying a more literary, cautionary tone.
Word family· 7 fear; be afraid of
be sorry; beg pardon; feel small · be much obliged; be grateful; be thankful · be amazed; be greatly impressed; admire · be dumbfounded; be confounded; be stunned; be fed up; be defeated
awesome; awe-inspiring; august · presumptuous; discourteous (to a superior); lacking due respect
fear; dread; fright
fearless; intrepid
Show 2 more Show fewer 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.
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.
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