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B1 verb #2,000 most common 5 min read

恐れる

To fear, be afraid of, or dread.

osoreru
At the A1 level, you usually learn 'kowai' (scary) first. You might not use 'osoreru' yet, but you can understand it as the verb 'to fear'. Think of it as the action of being afraid. While 'kowai' is like saying 'It is scary', 'osoreru' is like saying 'I fear it'. At this stage, just remember that it is a verb used with the particle 'wo'.
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At A2, you start using 'osoreru' to talk about simple anxieties. For example, 'I fear the exam' (shiken wo osoreru). You also begin to see the difference between the adjective 'kowai' and the verb 'osoreru'. You might use it in simple sentences to describe what people are afraid of in general, like 'Many people fear snakes'.
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B1 is where 'osoreru' becomes very useful. You use it to talk about abstract fears like failure, change, or the future. You learn the grammar '...wo osoreru amari' (so afraid of ... that ...). You also start noticing 'osore ga aru' in weather reports or news, which means 'there is a danger of'. This level requires you to use the word in more formal or serious discussions.
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At B2, you should be comfortable using 'osoreru' in written essays and formal speeches. You understand the passive form 'osorerareru' (to be feared/respected). You can distinguish 'osoreru' from more specific words like 'kenen suru' (to be concerned). You use it to describe societal trends, such as 'The public fears the rising prices'.
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At C1, you use 'osoreru' to express complex psychological states and literary nuances. You understand its connection to 'awe' and 'reverence'. You can use it in idiomatic expressions and understand its role in classical-style Japanese. You might use it to discuss philosophical fears or the 'fear of the unknown' in a sophisticated way.
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At C2, you have a complete grasp of 'osoreru' including its historical kanji variations (like 畏れる or 惧れる) and their subtle differences in meaning (reverence vs. apprehension). You can use the word in high-level legal, academic, or poetic contexts perfectly, matching the register to the audience. You understand the deep cultural roots of 'fear' in Japanese society through this word.
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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

恐れる in 30 Seconds

  • 恐れる (osoreru) is a B1-level Japanese verb meaning 'to fear' or 'to be afraid of', focusing on psychological dread.
  • It is a transitive verb using the particle 'wo' to mark the object of fear, such as failure or change.
  • Unlike the adjective 'kowai', 'osoreru' is formal and describes an internal state rather than an immediate reaction.
  • Commonly used in news (osore ga aru) to indicate risks of natural disasters or economic problems.

The Japanese verb 恐れる (osoreru) is a fundamental yet nuanced term used to express the concept of fear, dread, or being afraid of something. Unlike the more common adjective 怖い (kowai), which often describes a visceral, immediate, or physical reaction to a scary stimulus, 恐れる tends to describe a more psychological, abstract, or long-term state of apprehension. It is frequently used when discussing the fear of consequences, the fear of failure, or the fear of powerful natural or social forces.

Core Semantic Range
At its heart, the verb encompasses the feeling of anxiety or trepidation regarding a potential negative outcome. It can range from fearing a physical entity to fearing an abstract concept like 'the truth' or 'the future'.
Grammatical Function
It is a transitive verb (他動詞), typically taking the particle を (wo) to indicate the object of fear. For example, 失敗を恐れる (shippai wo osoreru) means 'to fear failure'.
Passive and Potential Nuances
The passive form 恐れられる (osorerareru) is often used to describe someone who is feared or held in awe by others, such as a strict leader or a powerful opponent.

「彼は失敗を恐れるあまり、新しいことに挑戦できない。」 (He is so afraid of failure that he cannot try new things.)

— Common usage in psychological contexts

In formal contexts, 恐れる can also imply a sense of profound respect or awe, particularly when used in the form 畏れ多い (osore-ooi), though the kanji might change to 畏 in those specific instances. However, the standard 恐 kanji remains the go-to for general fear. It is a 'Level B1' word because it requires the speaker to distinguish between simple 'scary' feelings and the more complex 'fear of' something specific.

「多くの人々が老いを恐れている。」 (Many people fear growing old.)

「神を恐れる心。」 (A heart that fears God.)

Using 恐れる correctly involves understanding its transitivity and its typical collocations. It is a Ichidan verb (Group 2), meaning its conjugation is straightforward: 恐れる (dictionary), 恐れます (polite), 恐れない (negative), 恐れた (past).

1. The Direct Object Pattern

The most common structure is [Noun] を 恐れる. This identifies the specific source of the fear. Common nouns used here include:

  • 失敗 (Shippai): Failure
  • 変化 (Henka): Change
  • 死 (Shi): Death
  • 批判 (Hihan): Criticism
  • 孤独 (Kodoku): Loneliness

2. The 'Fear of Doing' Pattern

To express fear of an action, you use the nominalizer の or こと. For example: 嫌われるのを恐れる (To fear being disliked). This allows for complex clauses to become the object of the fear.

「彼女は真実を知ることを恐れている。」 (She is afraid of knowing the truth.)

3. The 'Fear that...' (恐れがある)

A very common formal expression is 〜恐れがある (osore ga aru). This is used in news and reports to mean 'there is a risk/danger that...'. For example: 大雨で洪水になる恐れがある (There is a risk of flooding due to heavy rain).

You will encounter 恐れる in various domains, ranging from daily conversations about personal anxieties to high-level academic or journalistic reports.

1. News and Weather Reports

This is perhaps the most frequent place to hear the noun form 恐れ. News anchors use it to warn the public about potential disasters or economic downturns. Phrases like 津波の恐れがあります (There is a danger of a tsunami) are standard emergency Japanese.

2. Business and Economics

In business, it's used to discuss risk management. Managers might talk about リスクを恐れずに (without fearing risk) or 市場の悪化を恐れる (fearing the worsening of the market). It conveys a professional level of concern.

3. Literature and Philosophy

Because 恐れる deals with internal states, it is a staple of Japanese literature. Authors use it to describe a character's existential dread or their fear of social ostracization. It sounds more poetic and profound than 怖い.

Anime/Manga Context
"The villain is feared by everyone." -> 彼は皆に恐れられている (Kare wa minna ni osorerarete iru).
Self-Help/Psychology
"Don't fear making mistakes." -> 間違いを恐れるな (Machigai wo osoreru na).

Learners often struggle with the distinction between the verb 恐れる and the adjective 怖い. Here are the most common pitfalls:

1. Confusing Part of Speech

Mistake: ❌ 私は蛇が恐れる (I fear snakes - wrong particle/usage).
Correct: ✅ 私は蛇を恐れる (I fear snakes - verb) or ✅ 私は蛇が怖い (Snakes are scary to me - adjective).

2. Overusing it for Physical Fear

If you are watching a horror movie and feel scared, you should say 「怖い！」. If you say 「恐れる！」, it sounds like you are making a formal declaration of your psychological state, which is unnatural in the moment.

3. Mixing up 恐れる (Osoreru) and 怖がる (Kowagaru)

怖がる is used to describe *someone else* acting scared. 恐れる is a more internal, often hidden, feeling. You 'osoreru' failure in your heart, but a child 'kowagaru' the dark by crying.

Japanese has several ways to express fear. Understanding the nuances between them will elevate your fluency.

怖い (Kowai)
The most common adjective. It describes the quality of the object (The ghost is scary) or the speaker's immediate feeling.
恐ろしい (Osoroshii)
An adjective meaning 'terrible' or 'dreadful'. It describes something of a large scale or extreme nature, like a 'terrible accident' (恐ろしい事故).
怖がる (Kowagaru)
A verb meaning 'to act scared' or 'to show fear'. Usually used for third parties or children.
懸念する (Kenen suru)
A formal, academic/business term meaning 'to be concerned' or 'to have apprehensions'. It is the 'professional' version of 恐れる.
畏怖する (Ifu suru)
To be in awe. A mix of fear and profound respect, often used for gods, nature, or great leaders.

Choosing the right word depends on the **intensity** and the **formality** of the situation. 恐れる sits right in the middle—versatile enough for daily life but serious enough for literature.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

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Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

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Examples by Level

1

彼は犬を恐れる。

He fears dogs.

Simple [Noun] + を + 恐れる.

2

お化けを恐れないで。

Don't fear ghosts.

Negative command form (nai de).

3

子供は暗闇を恐れる。

Children fear the darkness.

General statement.

4

私は火を恐れます。

I fear fire.

Polite form (masu).

5

何を恐れているの？

What are you fearing?

Question with te-iru form.

6

彼女は虫を恐れる。

She fears insects.

Standard transitive usage.

7

父は雷を恐れる。

My father fears thunder.

Subject + wa + Object + wo + osoreru.

8

恐れることはない。

There is nothing to fear.

Verb + koto wa nai (no need to...).

1

間違いを恐れずに話してください。

Please speak without fearing mistakes.

zu ni (without doing).

2

彼は病気を恐れている。

He is fearing illness.

te-iru for ongoing state.

3

テストの結果を恐れる。

I fear the test results.

Abstract noun object.

4

多くの人が孤独を恐れる。

Many people fear loneliness.

Social concept as object.

5

母は私の将来を恐れている。

My mother fears for my future.

Psychological concern.

6

失敗を恐れてはいけない。

You must not fear failure.

te wa ikenai (prohibition).

7

彼は高い所を恐れる。

He fears high places.

Phobia description.

8

誰もが死を恐れる。

Everyone fears death.

Universal truth.

1

変化を恐れる人は多い。

There are many people who fear change.

Noun-modifying clause.

2

台風が来る恐れがあります。

There is a danger that a typhoon will come.

osore ga aru (risk/danger).

3

彼は嫌われるのを恐れている。

He is afraid of being disliked.

no wo (nominalized clause).

4

批判を恐れて何も言えなかった。

Fearing criticism, I couldn't say anything.

te-form for reason/cause.

5

失業を恐れる労働者たち。

Workers who fear unemployment.

Economic context.

6

彼女は老いることを恐れている。

She is afraid of growing old.

koto wo (nominalized action).

7

その独裁者は国民に恐れられていた。

The dictator was feared by the citizens.

Passive voice (osorerareru).

8

リスクを恐れていては成功できない。

You cannot succeed if you are fearing risk.

te-ite wa (if one keeps...).

1

経済の悪化が恐れられている。

A worsening of the economy is feared.

Passive voice for general opinion.

2

彼は世間の目を恐れるあまり、引きこもった。

Because he feared public scrutiny so much, he became a recluse.

osoreru amari (so much that...).

3

真実が明らかになるのを恐れる。

I fear the truth coming to light.

Complex nominalized clause.

4

そのウイルスは世界中で恐れられた。

The virus was feared throughout the world.

Global context.

5

権力者を恐れる必要はない。

There is no need to fear those in power.

hitsuyou wa nai.

6

彼は神の怒りを恐れている。

He fears the wrath of God.

Religious context.

7

インフレの再燃が恐れられる。

A resurgence of inflation is feared.

Formal journalistic style.

8

若者はチャンスを逃すことを恐れる。

Young people fear missing out on opportunities.

Psychological trend.

1

自然の猛威を恐れ、敬う心。

A heart that fears and respects the fury of nature.

Fear mixed with reverence.

2

彼は自らの内なる闇を恐れていた。

He was afraid of the darkness within himself.

Metaphorical usage.

3

孤立を恐れるあまり、自分を偽る。

To lie to oneself out of an excessive fear of isolation.

Psychological depth.

4

その沈黙は、何かが起こる前触れとして恐れられた。

The silence was feared as a harbinger of something to come.

Literary atmosphere.

5

死そのものよりも、忘れられることを恐れる。

I fear being forgotten more than death itself.

Comparative fear.

6

民衆の反乱を恐れた王は、弾圧を強めた。

The king, fearing a popular revolt, strengthened the suppression.

Historical narrative.

7

テクノロジーの進化が人間性を奪うことが恐れられている。

It is feared that the evolution of technology will strip away humanity.

Societal critique.

8

彼は運命のいたずらを恐れることなく突き進んだ。

He pushed forward without fearing the tricks of fate.

Abstract literary object.

1

万物の根源を恐れ、畏怖の念を抱く。

To fear the source of all things and hold a sense of awe.

Philosophical/Spiritual.

2

その法案は人権を侵害する恐れがあるとして、強く批判された。

The bill was strongly criticized on the grounds that it might violate human rights.

Formal legal/political risk.

3

実存的な虚無を恐れる現代人の苦悩。

The anguish of modern people who fear existential void.

Academic/Philosophical.

4

彼は権威に屈することを何よりも恐れた。

He feared submitting to authority more than anything else.

Moral stance.

5

その予言は、破滅を恐れる人々の心に深く刻まれた。

The prophecy was deeply etched into the hearts of those who feared ruin.

Epic narrative.

6

未知の領域に踏み出すことを恐れるのは、生物の本能である。

It is a biological instinct to fear stepping into unknown territory.

Scientific/Biological.

7

彼は己の傲慢さが招く災いを恐れた。

He feared the disaster that his own arrogance would bring.

Classical tragedy theme.

8

伝統の断絶を恐れるあまり、過度な保守主義に走る。

To run toward excessive conservatism out of fear of a break in tradition.

Sociological analysis.

Common Collocations

失敗を恐れる
変化を恐れる
死を恐れる
批判を恐れる
リスクを恐れる
神を恐れる
人目を恐れる
孤独を恐れる
老いを恐れる
報復を恐れる

Common Phrases

恐れるに足りない

恐れを知らぬ

恐れをなす

恐れがある

恐れ入ります

恐れ多くも

恐れを抱く

恐れおののく

恐れを忘れる

恐れを最小限にする

Often Confused With

恐れる vs 怖い (kowai)

Adjective, used for immediate physical fear or scary qualities.

恐れる vs 怖がる (kowagaru)

Verb, used to describe the outward behavior of being scared, often for others.

恐れる vs 恐ろしい (osoroshii)

Adjective, means 'terrible' or 'dreadful' in scale.

Idioms & Expressions

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Easily Confused

恐れる vs

恐れる vs

恐れる vs

恐れる vs

恐れる vs

Sentence Patterns

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How to Use It

formality

Higher than 'kowai'.

abstractness

Preferable for abstract concepts.

transitivity

Always use 'wo' for the object.

Common Mistakes
  • Using 'ga' instead of 'wo'.
  • Using 'osoreru' as an exclamation like 'Kowai!'.
  • Confusing 'osoreru' with 'osoreiru' (which means to be sorry/humbled).
  • Using it for very minor things like being afraid of a small spider.
  • Forgetting that it is an Ichidan verb and conjugating it like a Godan verb.

Tips

Particle Choice

Always use 'wo' with 'osoreru'. Using 'ga' is a common mistake for beginners who confuse it with 'kowai'.

Abstract vs. Physical

Use 'osoreru' for abstract things like 'failure' and 'kowai' for physical things like 'snakes'.

News Japanese

Memorize 'osore ga aru'. You will hear it every time there is a weather warning in Japan.

Passive Voice

Use 'osorerareru' to describe a 'feared' leader or a 'dreaded' disease in your writing.

Seken no me

The phrase 'seken no me wo osoreru' (fearing the eyes of the world) is key to understanding Japanese social pressure.

Encouragement

Say 'shippai wo osorezu ni!' to encourage friends. It sounds more sophisticated than 'kowagaranaide'.

Heart Radical

Notice the 'heart' (心) at the bottom of 恐. It shows that fear is an emotion of the heart.

Synonym Power

Learn 'kenen suru' alongside 'osoreru' to improve your formal Japanese skills.

Nature's Fury

Japanese people 'osoreru' nature because of earthquakes. It's a fear mixed with deep respect.

JLPT Tip

'Osoreru' often appears in N3 and N2 reading sections regarding risks or psychological states.

Memorize It

Word Origin

Cultural Context

The word can imply a respectful distance from something too powerful to control.

The fear of social exclusion (mura-hachibu) is historically rooted in the word.

Because Japan is prone to natural disasters, the phrase 'osore ga aru' is a constant part of the cultural soundscape.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"最近、何を一番恐れていますか？ (What do you fear most lately?)"

"失敗を恐れずに挑戦したことはありますか？ (Have you ever tried something without fearing failure?)"

"将来、AIが人間の仕事を奪うことを恐れますか？ (Do you fear that AI will take human jobs in the future?)"

"子供の頃、何を恐れていましたか？ (What did you fear when you were a child?)"

"変化を恐れるのは、人間の本能だと思いますか？ (Do you think fearing change is a human instinct?)"

Journal Prompts

私が一番恐れていることは... (The thing I fear most is...)

失敗を恐れて諦めた経験について。 (About an experience where I gave up fearing failure.)

もし恐れがなかったら、何をしたいですか？ (If you had no fear, what would you want to do?)

社会が今、最も恐れていることは何だと思いますか？ (What do you think society fears most right now?)

「恐れ」と「尊敬」の違いについて。 (About the difference between 'fear' and 'respect'.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Technically yes, but it sounds very dramatic. Usually, you would say 'kumo ga kowai'. Use 'osoreru' if you have a deep, psychological dread of them.

'Osoreru' is a general word for fear. 'Kenen suru' is a formal business/political term meaning 'to be concerned about a risk'.

Yes, in formal or literary contexts, it can imply 'awe' or 'reverence', especially toward gods or nature.

The negative command is 'osoreru na' (harsh) or 'osorenaide kudasai' (polite).

It means 'there is a danger' or 'there is a risk' of something bad happening, like a storm.

Yes, 'kare wo osoreru' means you fear him. 'Kare ni osorerareru' means he is feared by you/others.

The kanji 恐 is JLPT N3 level. It's common and worth learning.

Yes, this is the most common way to describe a current state of fear.

It's a very formal word meaning 'gracious' or 'august', used when talking to or about royalty or gods.

It is transitive. You fear *something* (Object を 恐れる).

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