恐怖|きょうふkyoufu[1]atamadaka (head-high)
くふkufuok
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Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbfear; dread; dismay; terror; horror; scare; panic
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 恐怖する（きょうふする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 恐怖します（きょうふします） |
| Negative (nai) | 恐怖しない（きょうふしない） |
| polite (masen) | 恐怖しません（きょうふしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 恐怖せず・恐怖せぬ（きょうふせず・きょうふせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 恐怖した（きょうふした） |
| polite (mashita) | 恐怖しました（きょうふしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 恐怖しなかった（きょうふしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 恐怖しませんでした（きょうふしませんでした） |
| Te form | 恐怖して（きょうふして） |
| Potential | 恐怖できる（きょうふできる） |
| Passive | 恐怖される（きょうふされる） |
| Causative | 恐怖させる（きょうふさせる） |
| Causative passive | 恐怖させられる（きょうふさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 恐怖すれば（きょうふすれば） |
| tara | 恐怖したら（きょうふしたら） |
| Volitional | 恐怖しよう（きょうふしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 恐怖しましょう（きょうふしましょう） |
| Imperative | 恐怖しろ（きょうふしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym恐れるおそれるNeutralA verb: to fear or worry (「失敗を恐れる」). Leans written; 「恐怖」 is the noun for an intense feeling of fear.
- Synonym怖がるこわがるNeutralColloquial verb for being scared (「暗闇を怖がる」); often describes fear visibly shown by a third person.
- Synonym畏怖いふWrittenWritten word for trembling dread, and also awe (「自然への畏怖」); more formal than 「恐怖」.
- SynonymホラーNeutralLoanword for the horror genre (「ホラー映画」); it does not describe a person's fear.
- SynonymおそれNeutralWorry or fear, and also likelihood (「雨の恐れ」); milder than 「恐怖」.
- Synonym恐怖心きょうふしんNeutralThe feeling of fear itself (「恐怖心を克服する」); stresses the dread inside one's mind rather than the emotion's intensity.
- Related警戒けいかいNeutralVigilance or wariness (「警戒を強める」); it is about guarding against danger, not a feeling of fear.
- Related脅威きょういNeutralA threat (「脅威となる」); centers on the danger posed by something outside, though it can include the fear of feeling threatened, where 「恐怖」 is the fear itself.
- Related恐慌きょうこうNeutralPanic or being thrown into confusion; also an economic panic such as 「金融恐慌」.
- RelatedこわCasualColloquial exclamation meaning 'scary!' (「こわっ」); rarely used alone as a noun.
- Related怖気おぞけNeutralRead 「おぞけ」: dread or a creeping chill, mostly in 「怖気をふるう」「怖気立つ」; leans written.
- Related憂懼ゆうくWrittenRare written word for fear and apprehension; in everyday speech say 「不安」 or 「恐れ」.
- Related狼狽ろうばいWrittenWritten word for being thrown into panic (「狼狽する」); stresses a flustered, disarrayed appearance.
- Related憂虞ゆうぐWrittenRare written word for anxiety and worry; in daily speech say 「心配」.
- Related鬼胎きたいWrittenRare written word, mostly in 「鬼胎を抱く」, for a secret worry; in medicine it also means a hydatidiform mole.
- Antonym安心あんしんNeutralRelief, being free of worry; the opposite of 「恐怖」, which implies fear in the heart.
- Antonym平穏へいおんNeutralCalm and peaceful, with nothing happening; the opposite of a state gripped by 「恐怖」.
Use 「恐怖」 for an intense feeling of fear or dread. To say someone fears something, use the verb 「恐れる」 or the colloquial 「怖がる」; for worry or the chance something may happen use 「恐れ」; for awe use 「畏怖」; for panic use 「恐慌」; for horror as a genre use 「ホラー」. The opposite of 「恐怖」 is 「安心」, being free of worry.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
