Fear and intimidation with 恐
The core meaning of 恐 is fear. From there, the character spreads in three main directions:
- being afraid, dreading, or finding something frightening
- causing fear, intimidating, or threatening
- shrinking back in awe, caution, or humility
Etymology
This kanji isa phono-semantic compound comprised of 心 (heart) as the semantic component and 巩 as the phonetic component (キヨウ).
As the semantic part, 心 places this kanji in the field of feelings and states of mind.
Plain Fear
恐ろしい (Frightening)
恐ろしい describes a state of anxiety or fear caused by a sense of danger or harm, or a situation that is so extreme as to be astonishing.
While in Nara on a class trip, Urushi and her friends stop to feed to deer. As the hungry animals completely surround Urushi, her friends discuss their schedule, ignoring Urushi’s plight. When Urushi finally returns to her group, she demands to know why no one came to her rescue.
- うるし:
- 「まったく… ひどい目に遭ったぞ」
- “Seriously… I had a terrible experience.”
- 「シカは恐ろしいな…」
- “Deer are scary…”
- ミク:
- 「落とし物とかしてないー？」
- “Did you drop anything?”
恐怖症 (Phobia)
恐怖症 means a phobia or persistent, pathological fear.
It combines 恐怖 (fear) with 症 (condition / syndrome) to show a fear-based condition.
A day of bad luck for Cocoa culminates with Syaro telling her to stay away.
- ココア:
- 「私そんな不運オーラ出てたんだ！」
- “Was I giving off that much bad-luck energy!?”
- 千夜:
- 「小さい頃あんこによくかじられて以来ちょっと恐怖症で…」
- “Ever since she received bites by Anko a lot when she was little, she's a bit traumatized...”
Causing Fear
恐竜 (Dinosaur)
恐竜 means dinosaur, literally a “fearsome dragon”.
It combines 恐 (fearsome) with 竜 (dragon) to show a terrifying dragon-like creature.
Kotoha, Yui, and Sacchan enter another exhibit room in the museum.
- ○:
- 「恐竜だらけだーー！」
- “It's full of dinosaurs!”