畏敬

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 畏敬 is a noun and irregular transitive verb read いけい, meaning awe or reverence that combines deep respect with a sense of fear before something great.
• Basic usage: Link the object of the feeling with への, as in 自然への畏敬, and use the set pattern 畏敬の念をもって for acting with reverence.
  • 巨大な滝を前にして、自然への畏敬を覚えました。 describes feeling awe toward nature before a huge waterfall; 村人はその古木を畏敬の念をもって守ってきました。 describes villagers preserving an old tree with reverence.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 自然への畏敬
  • への marks nature as the object toward which the feeling of awe is directed.
• 畏敬の念をもって
  • 念 packages the feeling as a noun, and をもって presents that attitude as the manner in which the action is performed.
• 畏敬 and 尊敬
  • 尊敬 broadly expresses esteem for a person's qualities or abilities, while 畏敬 includes reverential fear before greatness.