Structure
Verb［る］(1) + 恐れがある
［い］Adjective + 恐れがある
［な］Adjective + な(2) + 恐れがある
Noun + の(2) + 恐れがある
(1) Verb［ない］
(2) である
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Formal
About 恐れがある
恐れがある 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, 恐れ 'fear', が, and the う-Verb ある 'to be'. 恐れがある 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.
恐れ is primarily used directly after verbs, or nouns followed by の.
In most cases, 恐れ 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 恐れ, other common combinations are 恐れを抱く 'to carry the fear of (A)', or 'to bear the fear of (A)', and 恐れが強まる 'for the fear of (A) to strengthen', or 'for the fear of (A) to intensify'.
- 若者が将来について恐れを抱くことは普通のことです。It is normal for young people to have fears about the future.
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夏場の現場では熱中症の恐れが強まるので、作業員の方はこまめに水分補給と休憩を取るようにしてください。Workers are encouraged to hydrate and take frequent breaks, as the risk of heat stroke increases at construction sites during summer.
Synonyms
Examples
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お辞儀をしすぎると腰を痛める恐れがある。
If you bow too much, there is a risk of hurting your back.
教わっても忘れる恐れがあるから、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をかける恐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.
あの勢いでお代わりされると、ご飯が足りなくなる恐れがある。
If I am asked that way for seconds, there is a risk that there won't be enough food.
この絵の具は中身が漏れる恐れがあるから袋に入れてください。
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
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
Thanks a lot. I get it now
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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