JLPT N3 · Japanese kanji

恐

恐 — fear

Reading
キョウ・おそ.れる・おそ.る・おそ.ろしい・こわ.い・こわ.がる
Meaning
fear; dread; awe
JLPT level
N3
Language
Japanese

About this kanji

恐 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N3 level. Its primary reading is キョウ・おそ.れる・おそ.る・おそ.ろしい・こわ.い・こわ.がる and it means fear; dread; awe. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.

恐 appears in everyday japanese words such as 恐れ (fear), 恐縮 (shame) and 恐怖 (be afraid).

Japanese words containing 恐

Frequently asked questions

What does 恐 mean in Japanese?

恐 means fear; dread; awe in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N3 kanji every learner meets at that level.

How is 恐 read?

恐 is read キョウ・おそ.れる・おそ.る・おそ.ろしい・こわ.い・こわ.がる. Reading it inside real words — 恐れ and 恐縮 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.

What level is 恐 — is it JLPT N3?

Yes. 恐 is on the official JLPT N3 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.

How do you use 恐 in a word?

A common word containing 恐 is 恐れ (おそれ) — "fear". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.

How do I learn 恐 effectively?

Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 恐 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.

More JLPT N3 kanji

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