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On'yomi
フ・ホ
FU / HO
Kun'yomi
こわ.い・こわ.がる・お.じる・おそ.れる
kowai / kowagaru / ojiru / osoreru

dreadful · be frightened · fearful

Details

Strokes8
Frequency#1325
Radicalheart(4)

Stroke Order

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Strokes8

Component Breakdown

=

heart + 布

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of heart and cloth. Heart fearing cloth.

Symbolism

Scary, fear, afraid. Represents fear.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Reading a book

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

畏怖嫌厭

いふけんえん

feelings of dread and aversion; feelings of dread and aversion

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 怖 mean in Japanese?

怖 means dreadful, be frightened, fearful.

How do you read 怖?

On'yomi: フ、ホ (FU, HO). Kun'yomi: こわ.い、こわ.がる、お.じる、おそ.れる (kowai, kowagaru, ojiru, osoreru).

How many strokes does 怖 have?

怖 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 心 (heart).

Is 怖 a good kanji for a tattoo?

Yes. 怖 (dreadful, be frightened, fearful) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.