N2 · Expressions (N2)
おそれがある: there is a risk that
the risk of something bad, in news and notices
おそれがある warns that something bad may happen: the formal language of forecasts, notices and reports.
At a glance
- Remember
- おそれがある: a bad thing may happen — said like a forecast or a notice.
- Form
- 上陸するおそれがあるthere is a risk that it will hit land
- Signal words
- 〜おそれがある
- 〜のおそれ
- おそれはない
- 恐れ
- Trap
- Wrong:来年、給料が上がるおそれがある。Right:来年、給料が上がるかもしれない。
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.
The form
The patterns at a glance
Each row first says when or what the pattern is used for, then gives an example in Japanese.
| there is a risk that it will hit land | 上陸するおそれがある |
| there is a risk of heavy rain | 大雨のおそれがある |
| there is a risk of a tsunami (notice) | 津波のおそれがあります |
| there is no risk of a tsunami | 津波のおそれはない |
| a risk that it may spread | 広がるおそれ |
| compare: everyday | 降るかもしれない |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
Dictionary form + おそれがある: something bad may happen.
明日は川の水が溢れるおそれがある。Tomorrow there is a risk that the river will overflow.
After a noun, おそれ takes の.
今夜は雪崩のおそれがあります。Tonight there is a danger of avalanches.
The outcome is always something bad.
このままでは、会社が倒産するおそれがある。If things go on like this, there is a risk that the company will go bankrupt.
In conversation, かもしれない is the everyday choice.
明日は雨が降るかもしれないね。It might rain tomorrow.
Example sentences
台風が関東に上陸するおそれがあります。There is a risk that the typhoon will hit the Kanto region.
この薬は眠くなるおそれがあるので、運転しないでください。This medicine may cause drowsiness, so do not drive.
地震による津波のおそれはありません。There is no danger of a tsunami from the earthquake.
古い橋は崩れるおそれがある。There is a risk that the old bridge will collapse.
感染が広がるおそれがあるため、集会は中止された。The gathering was cancelled because the infection might spread.
今夜から明日にかけて、大雨のおそれがあります。There is a risk of heavy rain from tonight into tomorrow.
7 more example sentences
山では天気が急に変わるおそれがある。In the mountains the weather can change suddenly.
個人情報が漏れるおそれがある。There is a risk that personal data will be leaked.
この地域は洪水のおそれがある。This area is at risk of flooding.
放っておくと、病気が悪くなるおそれがある。If left untreated, the illness may get worse.
強風のため、電車が遅れるおそれがあります。Owing to strong winds, trains may be delayed.
子どもが飲み込むおそれがあるので、小さい部品に注意してください。Small parts may be swallowed by children, so please take care.
今のところ、噴火のおそれはないそうだ。For the time being, there is said to be no danger of an eruption.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English "may" is neutral, and a learner who has just met おそれがある uses it for any possibility. But おそれ is a danger, and a pay rise is nobody's danger. For a good or neutral possibility, use かもしれない or 可能性がある.
The full explanation
Read it all · about 1 min
恐れ is "fear" or "danger", and おそれがある says that there is a danger of something bad happening: 台風が上陸するおそれがある, "there is a risk that the typhoon will make landfall". It follows the dictionary form of a verb or a noun with の: 大雨のおそれ, "a risk of heavy rain".
It is the language of weather forecasts, news, official warnings, labels and reports — anywhere a risk is stated impersonally. In conversation the same idea is usually かもしれない: 雨が降るかもしれない. A speaker who says おそれがある about tomorrow's picnic sounds like a forecaster.
The outcome must be bad. 合格するおそれがある is wrong, because passing is nobody's danger; for a good possibility, かもしれない or 可能性がある is used. The opposite, おそれはない, "there is no risk", is common in announcements: 津波のおそれはありません.
English "may", "could" and "there is a risk" overlap, and learners translate a cautious "may" with おそれがある in everyday talk. The pattern is right when the sentence would sit comfortably on a notice board or in a news item, and too heavy anywhere else.
A closer look
おそれがある and かのうせいがある
可能性がある, "there is a possibility", is just as formal but neutral: it can introduce something good, bad or neither. 優勝する可能性がある is fine; 優勝するおそれがある is not.
When the outcome is bad, both are possible, and おそれ adds a note of warning. A forecast says おそれがあります because it wants people to take care; a report that only weighs the chances says 可能性があります.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the noun is 恐れ written in kanji
the meaning does not change; news writing uses both 恐れがある and おそれがある, and official style prefers kana.
道路が凍結する恐れがあります。There is a risk of the roads freezing.
Kana keeps the pattern apart from the ordinary noun "fear", which is also written 恐れ.
Worth knowing (1)
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On labels and packaging
Warnings on products use おそれがあります for side effects and hazards, often right after the cause: 火災の原因になるおそれがあります, "may cause a fire". Reading a label, find おそれ and look at what stands before it.
濡れた手で触ると、感電するおそれがあります。Touching it with wet hands may cause an electric shock.
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