音読み: キョウ
訓読み: おそれる
画数: 10
部首: 心（こころ）
Meaning
Fear / Dread / Awe / Be Afraid
- 恐れる — to fear / be afraid
- 恐ろしい — dreadful / terrifying
- 恐怖 — fear / terror
- 恐慌 — panic
- 恐喝 — extortion / intimidation
- 恐縮 — (to be) obliged / feel humbled
- 恐竜 — dinosaur
With 心 at the base, 恐 centers on the heart’s reaction—tightening, drawing back, standing in awe. The On-reading キョウ shows up across common words (恐怖・恐慌・恐縮). As a verb, 恐れる covers both “to fear” and respectful “to be in awe.”
Both 恐 and 怖 mean “fear.” One shows 心 at the bottom (恐) — the heart itself shrinking back. The other uses the side radical 忄 (怖) — emotions standing right at the front. Different shapes, same instinct: the feeling of dread.
Creates
恐縮 — “I’m humbled / much obliged.”