Readings: フ (Onyomi), こわ-い, こわ-がる, おそ-れる (Kunyomi)
Meaning: fearful, dreadful, afraid
The kanji 怖 combines the radical 心 (heart/mind), which signifies emotion, with 布 (cloth/spread out), used phonetically for its sound and possibly implying a feeling spreading. Together, it conveys the emotion of fear spreading through one’s heart.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 怖 has 10 strokes. The stroke order starts with the radical 心 on the left, followed by the 布 component on the right. Pay attention to the correct order and flow for each part to ensure proper formation.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 心 (こころ – heart, mind) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Unassigned (Commonly taught at N3) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- フ (FU)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- こわい (kowai)
- こわがる (kowagaru)
- おそれる (osoreru)
Common Words Using 怖
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 恐怖 | きょうふ | terror, fear |
| 恐怖症 | きょうふしょう | phobia |
| 恐怖心 | きょうふしん | feeling of fear, dread |
| 恐怖政治 | きょうふせいじ | reign of terror |
| 恐怖映画 | きょうふえいが | horror movie |
| 恐怖体験 | きょうふたいけん | terrifying experience |
| 恐怖小説 | きょうふしょうせつ | horror novel |
| 恐怖感 | きょうふかん | sense of fear |
| 恐怖のあまり | きょうふのあまり | overcome with fear (phrase) |
| 怖畏 | ふい | fear, dread (archaic/literary) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 怖い | こわい | scary, frightening, afraid |
| 怖がる | こわがる | to be afraid of, to fear (something) |
| 怖じ気 | おじけ | fear, timidity, cowardice |
| 怖じ気付く | おじけつく | to lose courage, to become timid |
| 怖れる | おそれる | to fear, to be afraid of (often written with 恐れる) |
| 怖じ恐じる | おじおじる | to be scared and fearful (literary) |
| 怖じ入る | おじいる | to be frightened into submission |
| 怖じ出す | おじだす | to become scared and retreat |
| 怖気立つ | おじけだつ | to be intimidated, to feel a chill of fear |
| 怖ろしげ | おそろしげ | looking dreadful/frightening (similar to 恐ろしげ) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 夜中に怖い夢を見た。
Kana: よなかにこわいゆめをみた。
Romaji: Yonaka ni kowai yume o mita.
English: I had a scary dream last night.
Japanese: 彼は怖がって何も言えなかった。
Kana: かれはこわがってなにもいえなかった。
Romaji: Kare wa kowagatte nani mo ienakatta.
English: He was so scared he couldn’t say anything.
Japanese: 幽霊の話は本当に怖かった。
Kana: ゆうれいのはなしはほんとうにこわかった。
Romaji: Yūrei no hanashi wa hontō ni kowakatta.
English: The ghost story was truly terrifying.
Japanese: 子供は犬を怖がっている。
Kana: こどもはいぬをこわがっている。
Romaji: Kodomo wa inu o kowagatte iru.
English: The child is afraid of dogs.
Japanese: 暗い夜道を一人で歩くのは怖い。
Kana: くらいよみちをひとりであるくのはこわい。
Romaji: Kurai yomichi o hitori de aruku no wa kowai.
English: Walking alone on a dark road is scary.
Japanese: 私は高所恐怖症です。
Kana: わたしはこうしょきょうふしょうです。
Romaji: Watashi wa kōsho kyōfushō desu.
English: I have acrophobia (fear of heights).
Japanese: その映画は子供には怖すぎる。
Kana: そのえいがはこどもにはこわすぎる。
Romaji: Sono eiga wa kodomo ni wa kowasugiru.
English: That movie is too scary for children.
Japanese: 彼女は失敗を怖れない。
Kana: かのじょはしっぱいをおそれない。
Romaji: Kanojo wa shippai o osorenai.
English: She is not afraid of failure.
Japanese: 彼の話は背筋が凍るほど怖かった。
Kana: かれのはなしはせすじがこおるほどこわかった。
Romaji: Kare no hanashi wa sesuji ga kooru hodo kowakatta.
English: His story was so scary it sent shivers down my spine.
Japanese: 恐怖政治の時代は多くの犠牲者を出した。
Kana: きょうふせいじのじだいはおおくのぎせいしゃをだした。
Romaji: Kyōfu seiji no jidai wa ōku no giseisha o dashita.
English: The era of the reign of terror produced many victims.
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