What is the difference between "恐れ" and "虞"?

"恐れ" means "fear; dread; awe; risk; danger" (N3), whereas "虞" represents "fear; apprehension; risk; danger (that something bad might happen)" (N1).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "おそれ (osore)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

おそれ (osore)

N3 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

おそれ (osore)

N1 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "おそれ (osore)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

恐れ (Level: N3): Translates to "fear; dread; awe; risk; danger" and is used when 名詞。不安や恐怖の感情、またはそうなる可能性を指す。動詞は「恐れる」。e.g., 失敗の恐れがある.
虞 (Level: N1): Maps to "fear; apprehension; risk; danger (that something bad might happen)" and carries the nuance of More formal than 怖い.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "恐れ"

彼女は一人で暗い道を歩くことに恐れを感じた。

She felt fear walking alone on the dark street.

Bilingual Context for "虞"

このままでは、経済が破綻する虞がある。

There is a risk that the economy will collapse as it is.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "彼女は一人で暗い道を歩くことに＿＿＿を感じた。" (Meaning: "She felt fear walking alone on the dark street.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "恐れ" is used for "fear; dread; awe; risk; danger" in the context: "She felt fear walking alone on the dark street.".