kǒngjù: 恐惧 - Fear, Dread, Phobia

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• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 恐惧 (kǒngjù), the primary Chinese word for a deep and profound sense of fear, dread, or terror. This page breaks down the characters, explores its cultural significance, and contrasts it with the more common word for being scared, `害怕 (hàipà)`. Discover how to use 恐惧 (kǒngjù) correctly in sentences to describe everything from phobias to existential dread, making your Chinese sound more precise and sophisticated.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kǒngjù
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A profound and often sustained feeling of fear, dread, or terror.
• In a Nutshell: 恐惧 (kǒngjù) is not your everyday fear. While you might be `害怕 (hàipà)` of a barking dog or a scary movie, 恐惧 (kǒngjù) describes a much deeper, more psychological state. Think of the dread you feel about public speaking, the fear of failure, or a clinical phobia. It carries a formal, serious, and intense weight, describing a fear that takes hold of your mind and heart.

• 恐 (kǒng): This character on its own means “fear,” “to frighten,” or “terror.” It's composed of 工 (gōng), which originally depicted a tool and here provides the sound, and 心 (xīn), the character for “heart” or “mind.” This structure powerfully indicates that fear is an emotion rooted in one's heart/mind.
• 惧 (jù): This character also means “fear,” “dread,” or “to be afraid.” It is composed of the heart radical 忄(a variant of 心, xīn) on the left, and 具 (jù) on the right, which provides the sound. Again, the meaning is directly tied to the heart.

By combining two characters with almost the same meaning, 恐惧 (kǒngjù) becomes a formal, intensified term. It's like saying “fear-dread” in a single word, elevating the concept from a simple reaction to a profound state of being.

Fear is a universal human emotion, but its expression and the concepts surrounding it can be culturally specific. In Western cultures, especially American culture, there is a strong narrative of “facing your fears” in an individualistic, often confrontational manner. In Chinese culture, while courage is highly valued, the management of 恐惧 (kǒngjù) can be viewed differently. There is often a strong emphasis on overcoming fear through discipline, knowledge, and collective strength rather than solitary confrontation. For instance, the fear of failure can be a significant form of 恐惧, not just for the individual, but because of the potential to “lose face” (丢脸, diūliǎn) for one's entire family. This collective dimension adds a layer of social pressure to personal fears. Therefore, 恐惧 (kǒngjù) in a Chinese context can be deeply intertwined with social obligations, family expectations, and the maintenance of harmony, making it a more complex and socially-rooted concept than the simple English word “fear.”

恐惧 (kǒngjù) is a formal and strong word, typically reserved for serious situations.

• Formal and Written Language: You will frequently see 恐惧 in news articles, academic papers, and literature to describe societal fears (e.g., economic uncertainty), psychological conditions, or the terror of war and disaster.
• Describing Phobias (恐惧症): This is a primary modern use. The word is the root for clinical phobias.
  • `社交恐惧症 (shèjiāo kǒngjùzhèng)` - Social Anxiety Disorder / Social Phobia
  • `恐高症 (kǒnggāozhèng)` - Acrophobia (fear of heights)
  • `幽闭恐惧症 (yōubì kǒngjùzhèng)` - Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces)
• Expressing Deep, Personal Fears: When you want to talk about a genuine, deep-seated fear that affects you psychologically, 恐惧 is the right word. It shows the gravity of the emotion.
  • Example: “我内心最大的恐惧是孤独。(Wǒ nèixīn zuìdà de kǒngjù shì gūdú.)” - “My deepest inner fear is loneliness.”

• Example 1:
  • 想到要在几百人面前演讲，她就感到一阵恐惧。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎngdào yào zài jǐ bǎi rén miànqián yǎnjiǎng, tā jiù gǎndào yī zhèn kǒngjù.
  • English: Thinking about giving a speech in front of several hundred people, she felt a wave of dread.
  • Analysis: This shows 恐惧 used for a common but profound fear (public speaking). `一阵 (yī zhèn)` means “a burst” or “a wave,” vividly describing the feeling.
• Example 2:
  • 孩子们恐惧黑暗，因为他们不知道黑暗中隐藏着什么。
  • Pinyin: Háizimen kǒngjù hēi'àn, yīnwèi tāmen bù zhīdào hēi'àn zhōng yǐncángzhe shénme.
  • English: Children fear the dark because they don't know what is hidden in it.
  • Analysis: Here, 恐惧 is used as a verb. It elevates the common childhood fear to a more profound, existential level, suitable for a more descriptive or literary context.
• Example 3:
  • 战争给人们带来了无尽的痛苦和恐惧。
  • Pinyin: Zhànzhēng gěi rénmen dài láile wújìn de tòngkǔ hé kǒngjù.
  • English: War brought endless suffering and terror to the people.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of 恐惧 in a formal, serious context to describe the deep-seated fear associated with major disasters.
• Example 4:
  • 他患有社交恐惧症，所以很少参加聚会。
  • Pinyin: Tā huàn yǒu shèjiāo kǒngjùzhèng, suǒyǐ hěn shǎo cānjiā jùhuì.
  • English: He suffers from social phobia, so he rarely attends parties.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the clinical use of the term as part of `恐惧症 (kǒngjùzhèng)`.
• Example 5:
  • 面对未知的未来，很多人都心存恐惧。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì wèizhī de wèilái, hěnduō rén dōu xīncún kǒngjù.
  • English: Facing the unknown future, many people harbor fear in their hearts.
  • Analysis: `心存 (xīncún)` literally means “to have in one's heart.” Paired with 恐惧, it beautifully describes an internal, existential dread.
• Example 6:
  • 我们必须学会克服对失败的恐惧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū xuéhuì kèfú duì shībài de kǒngjù.
  • English: We must learn to overcome the fear of failure.
  • Analysis: This highlights a common psychological challenge. Using `害怕 (hàipà)` here would sound too weak; 恐惧 captures the paralyzing nature of this fear.
• Example 7:
  • 电影里的怪物让观众充满了恐惧。
  • Pinyin: Diànyǐng lǐ de guàiwù ràng guānzhòng chōngmǎnle kǒngjù.
  • English: The monster in the movie filled the audience with terror.
  • Analysis: While a scary movie might make you `害怕`, if it's truly terrifying, the noun 恐惧 can be used to describe the collective emotion of the audience.
• Example 8:
  • 他对水的恐惧源于童年时的一次溺水经历。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì shuǐ de kǒngjù yuányú tóngnián shí de yī cì nìshuǐ jīnglì.
  • English: His fear of water stems from a drowning experience in his childhood.
  • Analysis: This connects 恐惧 to a past trauma, which is a very appropriate context for this strong word.
• Example 9:
  • 在独裁统治下，人民生活在持续的恐惧之中。
  • Pinyin: Zài dúcái tǒngzhì xià, rénmín shēnghuó zài chíxù de kǒngjù zhīzhōng.
  • English: Under the dictatorship, the people lived in a state of constant fear.
  • Analysis: This shows 恐惧 in a political or social context, describing a pervasive, oppressive atmosphere.
• Example 10:
  • 勇敢不是没有恐惧，而是带着恐惧前行。
  • Pinyin: Yǒnggǎn bùshì méiyǒu kǒngjù, érshì dàizhe kǒngjù qiánxíng.
  • English: Courage is not the absence of fear, but moving forward despite fear.
  • Analysis: A philosophical sentence that uses 恐惧 to discuss the nature of courage, highlighting its use in abstract concepts.

The most common mistake for learners is using 恐惧 (kǒngjù) when `害怕 (hàipà)` or `怕 (pà)` would be more appropriate.

• 恐惧 (kǒngjù) vs. 害怕 (hàipà):
  • 害怕 (hàipà): Use this for everyday fears and being scared. It's the common, general-purpose word. It describes a direct emotional reaction to a specific, immediate threat.
    • Correct: 我很害怕那只狗。(Wǒ hěn hàipà nà zhǐ gǒu.) - I'm very scared of that dog.
    • Correct: 我害怕考试不及格。(Wǒ hàipà kǎoshì bù jígé.) - I'm afraid of failing the exam.
  • 恐惧 (kǒngjù): Use this for deep, sustained, psychological dread or terror. It's more about a state of mind than a simple reaction.
    • Correct: 他对死亡有很深的恐惧。(Tā duì sǐwáng yǒu hěn shēn de kǒngjù.) - He has a deep fear of death.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Incorrect: 我恐惧打雷。(Wǒ kǒngjù dǎléi.)
  • Why it's wrong: This sounds overly dramatic and almost clinical, as if you have a diagnosed phobia of thunder. For a simple fear, it's unnatural.
  • Correct: 我怕打雷。(Wǒ pà dǎléi.) or 我害怕打雷。(Wǒ hàipà dǎléi.)

Think of it this way: You are `害怕` of something. You feel `恐惧` about something.

• 害怕 (hàipà) - The most common word for “to be afraid” or “scared.” A synonym, but much less intense and more frequently used than 恐惧.
• 怕 (pà) - A versatile and common verb meaning “to fear, to be afraid of.” Often used colloquially and interchangeably with `害怕`.
• 恐怖 (kǒngbù) - An adjective meaning “terrifying, horrifying, terrible.” It describes the quality of something that causes fear, like a `恐怖电影` (horror movie).
• 惊恐 (jīngkǒng) - A noun or adjective for “panic, fright, terror.” It emphasizes the sudden shock (`惊`) and alarm of fear.
• 畏惧 (wèijù) - A very formal verb meaning “to fear and hold in awe; to dread.” Often used for powerful, respected, or formidable things, like the power of nature or a mighty ruler.
• 担忧 (dānyōu) - To worry or be anxious. This is about future uncertainty and is much less intense than fear. You worry about a friend who is late; you fear a clear and present danger.
• 恐惧症 (kǒngjùzhèng) - The specific clinical term for “phobia.” A direct derivative.