恐れがある・おそれがある - Grammar Discussion

Grammar Points
#1

there is a risk/fear that
be in danger of
possibility of

Structure

  • Verb[る / ない] + 恐れがある
  • い-Adj + 恐れがある
  • な-Adj + 恐れがある
  • Noun + 恐れがある

硬

[Used when, based on some premise, the speaker/writer thinks that something bad might happen・Often used in articles, news, etc.]

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#2

Is anyone able to elaborate on how different (or not) 恐れがある and 恐らく are?
I’m having a hard time grasping the nuance of 恐らく

#3

Hey @JohnDoe1 !

恐れがある is used to imply that there is a possibility that something negative will happen. ( There is a risk or fear that…)

恐らく is used to simply present possibilities. (There is a possibility that…)

I hope that helps!

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#4

Thank you for your answser.
I’m confused because I thought 恐らく also meant something undesirable

#5

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!

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#6

Thanks a lot. I get it now :grinning: