憂える・愁える・患える|うれえるureeru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
憂える憂える is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when writing this verb.
愁える愁える is a rarely used written variant of 憂える, so learners will seldom encounter it and generally should choose 憂える instead.
患える患える is a rarely used written variant of 憂える; learners will seldom encounter it, and 憂える is the better choice for beginners.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto worry about; to be anxious about; to be concerned about; to stress over
- ichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto lament; to grieve; to mourn; to feel sorrow for
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 憂える（うれえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 憂えます（うれえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 憂えない（うれえない） |
| polite (masen) | 憂えません（うれえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 憂えず・憂えぬ（うれえず・うれえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 憂えた（うれえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 憂えました（うれえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 憂えなかった（うれえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 憂えませんでした（うれえませんでした） |
| Te form | 憂えて（うれえて） |
| Potential | 憂えられる（うれえられる） |
| Passive | 憂えられる（うれえられる） |
| Causative | 憂えさせる（うれえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 憂えさせられる（うれえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 憂えれば（うれえれば） |
| tara | 憂えたら（うれえたら） |
| Volitional | 憂えよう（うれえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 憂えましょう（うれえましょう） |
| Imperative | 憂えろ（うれえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym懸念けねんWrittenA noun for fearing something will turn out badly; common in news and business as 「懸念される」. More objective and detached than 「憂える」.
- Synonym心配しんぱいNeutralThe everyday word for worry and by far the most common. 「憂える」 is literary and mostly used for worry over a nation's or society's future.
- Synonym憂慮ゆうりょWrittenDeep, grave worry, mostly over a nation or the situation; more solemn than 「心配」 and, like 「憂える」, a written word.
- Synonym危ぶむあやぶむWrittenDoubts whether something can succeed or be realized; written style, often in news like 「開催が危ぶまれる」.
- Synonym案ずるあんずるWrittenWritten word for worry or concern, as in the proverb 「案ずるより産むが易し」; separately, it can also mean to think out or devise a plan.
- Related恐れるおそれるNeutralFear or dread; centers on the emotion of being afraid, more direct than 「憂える」, which frets over the future.
- Related危惧きぐWrittenWorry that a situation will worsen; used for social problems or species extinction, in a fairly objective tone.
- Related疑懼ぎくWrittenFear mixed with doubt; rare even in writing. In daily speech say 「不安」 instead.
- Related憂懼ゆうくWrittenRare written word combining worry and dread; leans more toward fear than 「憂える」.
- Related危懼きくWrittenAn older spelling of 「危惧」, rarely seen today; same sense of worrying that things will worsen.
- Related不安がるふあんがるNeutralShowing visible signs of unease, so the focus is on outward behavior rather than the inner feeling; a casual word, nowhere near as solemn as 「憂える」.
- Antonym喜ぶよろこぶNeutralTo be glad or delighted; the direct opposite of worry-laden 「憂える」.
- Antonym安心するNeutralTo feel relieved, worry set aside; the opposite of anxiously fretting 「憂える」.
For everyday worry, say 「心配する」. To voice worry in writing over the future of a nation or society, use 「憂える」 or 「憂慮する」; news reports of concern typically use 「懸念」. Narrower options: written 「危ぶむ」 doubts success and written 「危惧」 fears a worsening situation, while 「恐れる」 is plain fear and 「不安がる」 shows unease outwardly in casual speech.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
