I wanna ask you about the difference between [怖]{お}じける and [恐]{おそ}れる. Both
mean to be scary right?

  * Which is more common? 
  * How do I use each in a sentence?
  * Are they interchangeable?
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2017-11-18T12:32:31.367
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question
meaning words synonyms
What is the difference between 怖じける and 恐れる?
I think the words are often interchangeable and hard to distinguish. So, the
difference is subtle. My interpretation is the following:

怖{お｝じける is used often when it is in an unknown situation such as jumping off
from the cliff or going into a ruined building at midnight. You are testing
your courage.

On the other hand, 恐｛おそ｝れる is used often when you are scared of the
known/learned situation which had happened before.

If you are being bitten by the dog before, next time you might be afraid of
touching it. Or getting food-poisoning by eating a raw oyster, you are afraid
of having food-poisoning again by eating it. I think -phobia in English is
close to 恐れる.
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2017-11-18T13:27:35.137
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answer
I would define them as:

  * (~を)恐れる: to _fear_ (something)

  * (~に)怖じける: to flinch or cower _in fear_ (at something) ; get frightened

A1) I would say 恐れる is more common, in terms of the absolute number of uses,
but since their meaning are slightly different, I don't think there's much of
a point in comparing.

A2) Here's an example I made for each.「獣は火を恐れる。」: "Animals fear
fire."「熊は炎に怖じけて、逃げて行った。」: "The bear flinched at the fire, and ran away."

A3) Some of the time, I guess.
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answer