〜恐れがある~ osore ga aru
Osore ga aru (〜恐れがある) means “risk of an unwanted event”.
There is a risk that a tsunami may occur after the earthquake.
Use 〜恐れがある in fairly formal warnings about a possible unwanted event, not something hoped for.
In the course
How it works
Has the tsunami arrived yet? The danger inside the dashed circle has not happened. It warns of what might happen.
「恐れがある」 expresses the possibility or risk of something unwanted. Do not use it for good things you hope will happen.
Something being possible does not mean it will definitely happen. Read 「恐れがある」 as a warning about a risk.
Here, 「恐れ」 means the risk of something bad happening, rather than the fear the speaker feels at that moment.
Use a verb’s dictionary form before 「恐れがある」: 来る恐れがある, 起きる恐れがある.
Add 「の」 after a noun: 津波の恐れがある. The noun directly names the danger that might occur.
Weather forecasts warn of thunderstorms, and notices in mountain areas warn of landslides. This expression is common in fairly formal warnings.
In conversation, concern about clothes and luggage getting wet can prompt a warning to go home early, before it rains, to prevent damage.
Example sentences
- 地震jishinのnoあと、ato、津波tsunamiがga来るkuru恐れosoreがgaあります。arimasu。
There is a risk that a tsunami may occur after the earthquake.
- 山
In a conversation
- A天気予報によると、夜から急に雷雨になる恐れがあるそうですよ。
A: According to the weather forecast, there is a risk of sudden thunderstorms starting tonight.
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
After heavy rain, there is a risk of landslides occurring.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
地震のあと、津波が来る____があります。
There is a risk of a tsunami coming after an earthquake.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜恐れがあるrisk of an unwanted event