恐ろしい

• Reading: おそろしい
• Romaji: osoroshii
• Kanji breakdown: 恐 (kyou/oso) — fear, dread
• Pronunciation: /o.so.ɾo.ɕiː/

Meaning

Terrible; dreadful; frightening. Describes something that inspires fear or is shockingly extreme.

An i-adjective that expresses strong fear or awe. Beyond literal terror, it is often used hyperbolically to describe extreme degree, as in 恐ろしいスピード (a terrifying speed). Conjugates regularly: 恐ろしくない (not scary), 恐ろしかった (was scary).

Examples

1. 夜中に恐ろしい音が聞こえた。 I heard a terrifying sound in the middle of the night.
2. 台風の被害は恐ろしいものだった。 The damage from the typhoon was devastating.
3. 恐ろしいスピードで車が走り去った。 A car sped past at a frightening speed.

Usage Guide

Context: news, storytelling, daily life

Tone: dramatic

Origin & History

From the classical adjective 恐ろし (osoroshi), derived from the verb 恐る (osoru, to fear). The kanji 恐 combines 工 (craft) and 心 (heart) with a component suggesting trembling, evoking a heart gripped by fear.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal