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惧
“Fear / Be Afraid Of / Dread” in Japanese is 惧, read ku, gu, oso (く, ぐ, おそ). It is a Jōyō kanji taught in Japanese secondary school (junior & senior high) — the 高手 · Master tier beyond the grade 1–6 Kyōiku set, and appears in words such as 危惧 (apprehension).
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What does 惧 mean?
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 惧 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Fear / Be Afraid Of / Dread |
| Readings | く, ぐ, おそ |
| Grade | Master (高手 · secondary school) |
| Curriculum | Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2) |
| Example | 危惧 (apprehension) |
How to read 惧
惧 is read ku (く) or gu (ぐ) or oso (おそ) depending on the word.
Words with 惧
- 危惧
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Kanji read the same way as 惧
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Updated: 2026-08-28