How to say "awe" in Japanese

• 畏怖いふCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbAwe laced with fear or dread: the overpowered feeling one has before something overwhelmingly great, such as violent nature, a deity, or a formidable person, where fright is part of the emotion.
• 畏敬いけいCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbAwe felt as reverence and respect: deep, admiring awe toward something one looks up to, such as the divine or a great figure; often as 畏敬の念.
  私わたしたちはその話はなしを聞きいたとき、畏敬いけいの念ねんに打うたれてしまった。↗

  We were awed into silence when we heard the story.

Use 畏怖 for awe laced with fear or dread — being overawed by something overwhelming — and 畏敬 for awe felt as reverence and respect; ask whether the feeling is fearful or admiring.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 畏怖いふawe
• 畏敬いけいreverence
• 畏服いふくawe
• 敬畏けいいawe
• 畏懼いくreverence
• おそれawe