Meaning and Usage
두려워하다 means 'to be afraid' or 'to dread' something. It is a verb used to express fear or anxiety about a person, situation, or thing. It often appears with objects that cause fear, such as 실패 (failure), 어둠 (darkness), or 위험 (danger).
Common Collocations
- 두려워하다 + noun: to be afraid of something (e.g., 실패를 두려워하다 - to fear failure)
- 두려워하지 말다: to not be afraid (used to encourage someone)
Register and Politeness
두려워하다 is a standard verb used in both spoken and written Korean. It is neutral in politeness and can be combined with polite endings like -요 or formal endings.
Usage Tips
When using 두려워하다, the object of fear is marked with the particle 를/을. A common learner mistake is confusing 두려워하다 with 무서워하다; 두려워하다 often implies a deeper or more serious fear, while 무서워하다 can be used for more immediate or physical fear. Also, 두려워하지 말다 is a useful phrase to encourage someone not to be afraid.