Meaning

Primary

Phobia

Word Type

noun, suffix

Explanation

You learned 恐怖 means "terror," and 〜症 can mean "disease." So what's a terror disease? Well, it's a phobia.

In Japanese, 恐怖症 is mostly used as a suffix for specific phobia names, like 高所恐怖症 (acrophobia, or fear of heights). Do you have any 恐怖症?

Reading

きょうふしょう
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.

Context

Context Sentences

私も父も高所恐怖症です。

My dad and I are both afraid of heights.

閉所恐怖症のため、エレベーターに乗るのが苦手です。

I'm claustrophobic, so I have difficulty taking elevators.

上司からパワハラを受けたせいで、対人恐怖症になってしまいました。

Because of the power harassment I experienced from my boss, I've developed social anxiety.

ワニカニのやり過ぎで漢字を覚えたのはいいけれど、ワニとカニ恐怖症になってしまった。

I studied kanji on WaniKani too much, and while it was great that I learned kanji, I ended up developing a phobia of alligators and crabs.

Kanji Composition