How to say "reverence" in Japanese

• 尊敬そんけいJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbReverence as deep respect or esteem for a person — a teacher, parent, or admired figure — grounded in admiration of their character or ability rather than in awe. This is the word for respect toward people.
  あなたはだれからも尊敬そんけいされている。↗

  You're respected by everybody.
• 畏敬いけいCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbReverence blended with awe — the feeling one has before gods, nature, or anything vastly greater than oneself. Choose it when 'reverence' carries an overwhelming sense of awe, not mere esteem for a person.
  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.
• おそれJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounEssentially 'fear', 'horror', or 'anxiety and concern'; as 'reverence' it is marginal, fitting only where reverence shades into fear or awe of something overwhelming. Seldom the word you want.
  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.

For 'reverence', use 尊敬 for deep respect for an admired person, 畏敬 when the feeling is tinged with awe before gods, nature, or greatness, and treat 「おそれ」 as marginal, since it basically means fear or anxiety.

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

• 尊敬そんけいrespect
• 畏敬いけいreverence
• おそれfear
• 崇敬すうけいreverence
• 敬けいreverence
• 尊崇そんすうreverence
• 畏懼いくreverence
• 尊信そんしんreverence
• 敬いうやまいreverence
• 欽仰きんぎょうreverence
• 恭敬きょうけいrespect
• 渇仰かつごうadoration
• 敬神けいしんpiety
• 仰ぎ望みあおぎのぞみlook to (for help)
• 欽慕きんぼadoration
• 景仰けいこうadoration
• 敬畏けいいawe
• 仰望ぎょうぼうlooking up to (someone)