恐ろしい

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 恐ろしい is an i-adjective read おそろしい, meaning frightening, dreadful, or terrible.
• Basic usage: It can modify something that inspires fear, such as a scream, or a disastrous event with terrible consequences.
  • 森の奥から恐ろしい叫び声が聞こえました。 says that a terrifying scream was heard from deep in the forest; 物語の村は恐ろしい災いに見舞われました。 says that the village in the story suffered a terrible disaster.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 恐ろしい叫び声
  • The adjective modifies the scream and characterizes it as fear-inducing.
• 災いに見舞われる
  • This passive expression describes the village being struck by an unwanted disaster.
• 恐ろしい and 怖い
  • Both can mean frightening, while 恐ろしい can also emphasize the dreadful seriousness of an event or result.