N2 Assertion, Likelihood, and Norms

~おそれがある: meaning, usage and examples

~おそれがある means: there is a risk that... / there is a danger of...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 台風たいふうが近ちかづいており、洪水こうずいのおそれがある。

   A typhoon is approaching and there's a risk of flooding.

2. このまま続つづけると、失敗しっぱいするおそれがある。

   If we continue like this, there's a danger of failure.

3. この薬くすりは眠ねむくなるおそれがあるので、運転うんてん前まえには飲のまないでください。

   This medicine may cause drowsiness, so please do not take it before driving.

4. 大雨おおあめのため、この地域ちいきでは土砂崩どしゃくずれのおそれがあります。

   Because of the heavy rain, there is a risk of landslides in this area.

When to use it

Use おそれがある to warn that something bad could happen. It is typical of news, weather reports, medicine labels and official notices, as in 洪水こうずいのおそれがある (there is a risk of flooding). The result is always undesirable, such as damage, accidents, illness or failure.

Nuance

Formal and written. Used in an objective, warning tone, often by the media or authorities. Only for negative possibilities, never for good ones. Not used for the speaker's personal feelings or casual guesses.

Compare

かねない also means a bad result could happen, but often blames a cause or someone's behavior: その言いい方かたでは誤解ごかいされかねない. おそれがある is a neutral, official warning: 地震じしんのおそれがある. かもしれない is neutral and can be good or bad.

Tip: Think of weather and medicine warnings. If the sentence sounds like an announcement about danger, おそれがある fits.