怖い・恐い|こわいkowai[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. i-adjectivescary; frightening; eerie; dreadful
   彼かれは君きみがヘビが恐こわいのかしらと思おもっている。↗

   He wonders if you are afraid of snakes.

• Synonym恐ろしいおそろしいNeutralStronger than 「怖い」 and more at home in written prose; it can also describe an astonishing degree.
• SynonymおっかないCasualA Kanto colloquialism for scary or frightening; as in 「おっかない顔」, it is more casual than 「怖い」.
• Synonymもの恐ろしいものおそろしいWrittenWritten style for a vague, unaccountable fear — something feels frightening though you cannot say why.
• SynonymおどろおどろしいWrittenWritten word for an eerie, hair-raising feel; it mostly describes an atmosphere rather than a concrete threat.
• RelatedものすごいCasualColloquial; chiefly stresses an astonishing degree, as in 「ものすごい人」, though it can also mean frightening.
• Related凄まじいすさまじいWrittenWritten; describes an astounding, shocking degree, as in 「すさまじい叫び声」.
• RelatedおぞましいWrittenWritten; for what makes you shudder with disgust — the stress is on revulsion rather than fear itself.
• Related恐ろしげおそろしげNeutralDescribes a frightening look or manner, as in 「恐ろしげな顔」; it is about appearance, not the fear you feel.
• Antonym安心あんしんNeutralThe opposite of 「怖い」: feeling relieved and at ease, free of fear.
• Antonym怖くないCasualThe plain negative of 「怖い」: not scary, not frightening, as in 「全然怖くない」.

Use 「怖い」 by default for scary or frightening. For a heavier, more written tone pick 「恐ろしい」; in casual speech say 「おっかない」. For a fear you cannot quite explain use 「もの恐ろしい」, and for an eerie, sinister atmosphere 「おどろおどろしい」. When the point is relief rather than fear, switch to 「安心」.

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

1. 危険きけんが降ふりかかりそうでいやだ。
2. 人ひとが怒おこりっぽかったり態度たいどが高圧的こうあつてきだったり暴力的ぼうりょくてきだったりして近ちかづきにくい。やさしくない。
3. 否定的ひていてきな結果けっかが待まっているのではないかとおもい不安ふあんだ。おそろしい。