synonym Comparative
恐れる
VS
はばかる
Differences Between "恐れる" and "はばかる"
Option A
恐れる
Meaning
to fear, to be afraid of
Reading
おそれる (osoreru)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
失敗を恐れずに挑戦することが大切だ。
It's important to challenge yourself without fearing failure.
Option B
はばかる
Meaning
to hesitate; to be afraid of what others might think; to be self-conscious
Reading
はばかる (habakaru)
Syllabus Level
N2
Practical Example
人目をはばからず大声で笑った。
I laughed loudly without caring about what others thought.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(to fear, to be afraid of)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- 恐れる: More formal than 怖い (kowai). Often used for abstract fears or respect mixed with fear. (ex: 失敗を恐れる, 神を恐れる)
- はばかる: Often used in the negative form (はばからず) to mean "without hesitation" or "openly," or to describe someone acting without regard for others' opinions. In its positive form, it means to refrain due to others' opinions/presence.
- 恐れる: More formal than 怖い (kowai). Often used for abstract fears or respect mixed with fear. (ex: 失敗を恐れる, 神を恐れる)
- はばかる: Often used in the negative form (はばからず) to mean "without hesitation" or "openly," or to describe someone acting without regard for others' opinions. In its positive form, it means to refrain due to others' opinions/presence.
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