Japanese word

恐れ

Pronunciation

Romajiosore

Meaning

  • nounfear

Example

子どもには暗闇への恐れがあります。ko do mo ni wa kura yami e no oso re ga a ri ma su

The child has a fear of the dark.

Illustration for 恐れ (fear)

More examples

私は失敗への恐れを乗り越えました。watashi wa ship pai e no oso re o no ri ko e ma shi ta

I overcame my fear of failure.

Core concept

It presents something threatening as a source of inner unease or as a possible bad result, linking emotional fear with concern about what may happen.

Common phrases

  • 恐れがあるoso re ga a ru

    have a fear

  • 恐れを感じるoso re o kan ji ru

    feel fear

  • 恐れを抱くoso re o ida ku

    harbor fear

  • 恐れをなくすoso re o na ku su

    eliminate fear

  • 恐れを乗り越えるoso re o no ri ko e ru

    overcome fear

Similar words

恐怖kyōfu: A strong feeling of fear caused by a serious threat.
不安fuan: A feeling of unease about an uncertain situation or possible problem.
心配shinpai: Concern about a person, situation, or possible problem.
懸念kenen: A formal concern about a possible problem or harmful result.

Definition in Japanese

危険や悪い結果を予想して抱く不安な気持ち。また、望ましくない事態が起こる可能性。ki ken ya waru i kek ka o yo sō shi te ida ku fu an na ki mo chi ma ta nozo ma shi ku na i ji tai ga o ko ru ka nō sei

Word origin

恐れ (osore, "fear") is the noun form of 恐れる (osoreru, "to fear"), created by using the verb's ren'yōkei form as a noun.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 恐れがある (osore ga aru) is a formal way to state a risk, so it often appears in announcements and warnings instead of casual conversation.

Other meanings

  • concernnoun
  • risknoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word