How to say "fear" in Japanese

• 恐怖きょうふJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe noun for fear as a felt emotion, ranging from dread to terror; use it when describing the feeling itself, as in fear of heights or fear of failure.
  私は恐怖きょうふで気きも狂くるわんばかりだった。↗

  I almost went crazy with fear.
• 恐れるおそれるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb: to fear, to be afraid of. Use it when you need to say that someone fears something, as in fearing criticism or failure, rather than naming the feeling.
  大人おとなはしばしば変化へんかを恐おそれる。↗

  Older people often fear change.
• おそれJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers fear, anxiety and concern; often expresses apprehension that something undesirable might happen, so it fits contexts like 'there are fears that the plan may fail'.
  環境かんきょう汚染おせんについての恐おそれは、人々ひとびとに発電所はつでんしょの近ちかくに家いえを建たてることを思おもいとどまらせた。↗

  Fear of pollution discouraged people from building homes near power plants.
• 懸念けねんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbFear in the sense of worry or concern about a possible outcome — fears for the economy, safety concerns — rather than the felt emotion of being afraid.
  世界せかいの航空こうくう産業さんぎょうは墜落ついらく事故じこについての懸念けねんを募つのらせている。↗

  The world's aviation industry is growing increasingly worried about crashes.
• 気遣いきづかいCommon
  nounMainly consideration or concern for others — thoughtfulness and attention to someone's feelings or comfort. As 'fear' it is marginal; seldom the word you want for fear itself.
  彼かれの声こえには優やさしい気きづかいが満みちていた。↗

  His voice was full of tender concern.

Choose 恐怖 for fear as an emotion, 「恐れる」 for the verb 'to fear', 「おそれ」 for apprehension that something might happen, 懸念 for worry or concern about outcomes, and 「気遣い」 mainly for consideration rather than fear.

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

• 恐怖きょうふfear
• 恐れるおそれるto fear
• おそれfear
• 懸念けねんworry
• 気遣いきづかいconsideration
• 危ぶむあやぶむto fear
• 疑心ぎしんdoubt
• 憂慮ゆうりょanxiety
• 畏怖いふawe
• 心労しんろうanxiety
• 怖がるこわがるto be afraid (of)
• 心配しんぱいworry
• 不安ふあんanxiety
• 危惧きぐapprehension
• 案じるあんじるto be anxious (about)
• 嫌いぎらいdislike
• フィアfear
• 怖気おぞけfear
• 危疑きぎfear
• 憂懼ゆうくfear
• 恐れ気おそれげfear
• 恐怖心きょうふしんfear
• ザバイオレンサーFear (film)
• 畏懼いくreverence
• 憂虞ゆうぐanxiety
• 敬畏けいいawe
• 案ずるあんずるto be anxious (about)
• 不安心ふあんしんuneasiness
• 鬼胎きたいanxiety
• 憂いうれいanxiety