Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 8: 4/22

恐(おそ)れがあるThere is a risk or fear that, Be in danger of, Possibility of

Structure

Verb［る］(1) + 恐(おそ)れがある
［い］Adjective + 恐(おそ)れがある
［な］Adjective + な(2) + 恐(おそ)れがある
Noun + の(2) + 恐(おそ)れがある

(1) Verb［ない］
(2) である

Details

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About 恐れがある

恐(おそ)れがある is a set phrase in Japanese that is used in a fairly literal sense to convey that 'there is a chance of (A)', or 'there is a fear of (A)'. This is a combination of the noun, 恐(おそ)れ 'fear', が, and the う-Verb ある 'to be'. 恐(おそ)れがある will be used when (A) is a negative outcome that may potentially occur in some particular situation, and is usually used to warn about being careful of something.

恐(おそ)れ is primarily used directly after verbs, or nouns followed by の.

In most cases, 恐(おそ)れ carries the meaning of something that innately carries some kind of concern in relation to it, so depending on the context, alternative suitable translations could be 'concern', 'anxiety', 'worry', etc.

Fun-fact

In addition to がある following 恐(おそ)れ, other common combinations are 恐(おそ)れを抱(いだ)く 'to carry the fear of (A)', or 'to bear the fear of (A)', and 恐(おそ)れが強(つよ)まる 'for the fear of (A) to strengthen', or 'for the fear of (A) to intensify'.

Related

Examples

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    お辞儀(じぎ)をしすぎると腰(こし)を痛(いた)める恐(おそ)れがある。

    If you bow too much, there is a risk of hurting your back.

    教(おそ)わっても忘(わす)れる恐(おそ)れがあるから、メモしておこう。

    Even if I am taught (it), there is a risk of forgetting (it), so I will take notes.

    このオイルだとエンジンに負担(ふたん)をかける恐(おそ)れがあるからやめたほうがいい。

    Since there is fear that this oil may be taxing on the engine, it would be better to not use it.

    あの勢(いきお)いでお代(か)わりされると、ご飯(はん)が足(た)りなくなる恐(おそ)れがある。

    If I am asked that way for seconds, there is a risk that there won't be enough food.

    この絵(え)の具(ぐ)は中身(なかみ)が漏(も)れる恐(おそ)れがあるから袋(ふくろ)に入(い)れてください。

    There is a risk that the contents of these paints will leak, so please place them in a bag.

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      恐れがある – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (6 in total)

      • Fuga

        Fuga

        Although the original meaning of 恐らく had this nuance of ‘undesirable’, in modern Japanese, it does not carry this negative nuance. It is used just like how たぶん and ‘probably’ is used!

      • JohnDoe1

        JohnDoe1

        Thanks a lot. I get it now

      • casual

        casual

        Confused by 行ったのは and its translation as “if you go” in this example sentence:

        遠足に行ったのはいいが、急な天候の変化で帰れない恐れがある。
        It is alright if you go on the trip, but there is the possibility of a sudden change in weather that would not let you return (home).

        Is the situation that the listener is already on the trip?
        Is the situation that the listener is considering going on the trip in the near future?

        In Japanese, I’d expect nominalized past tense to refer to past events (except one specific expression たほうがいい (JLPT N5) | Bunpro ). So that would put the listener already on the trip.
        In English, I’d first of all interpret this as a discussion about going or not going to a planned trip, but maybe it is also meant as talking about the past here.

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