Meaning
畏惧 means to feel fear or apprehension toward something, often something powerful, threatening, or unknown. It conveys a sense of respect mixed with fear, and is more formal than casual words like 怕 (pà). The word suggests an emotional response to perceived danger or something intimidating.
Usage
畏惧 is somewhat formal and literary, commonly used in written Chinese, news reports, or formal speeches. In everyday conversation, people more often use 怕 or 害怕. It often appears with abstract objects like authority, difficulty, or challenges, and collocates with 对 (duì) to indicate what is feared.
Examples
- 01我们不应该畏惧挑战，而应该勇敢面对。, .We should not fear challenges, but should face them bravely.
- 02她对失败毫不畏惧，继续努力追求自己的梦想。, .She is not afraid of failure at all and continues to work hard to pursue her dreams.
Characters
Common collocations
- 对...畏惧...to fear (something)
- 毫不畏惧not afraid at all, fearless
- 畏惧困难to fear difficulties
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to fear: 畏 originally depicted a tiger威 (powerful animal) causing fear, while 惧 combines the heart radical 忄with 瞿 (startled), representing emotional fear. Together they form a compound emphasizing fearful reverence.