畏 means “awe, reverence”

い · i

Also: fear, majestic, graciously, be apprehensive

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

おそれる, かしこまる, かしこ, かしこし

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

イ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 9 strokes

The story

A great head (田) looming over a body poised to strike: picture a demon towering over you. 畏 is fear mixed with reverence: 畏敬 is awe, 畏怖 dread before something vast, and a shop clerk's かしこまりました is written 畏まりました.

Used in 畏敬 (ikei, awe and respect), 畏怖 (ifu, awe/dread), and 畏まる (kashikomaru, to humbly obey)

More from Fear & Shame

• 慄 shudder
• 臆 timid
• 虞 risk
• 羞 shame
• 焦 fret
• 脅 threaten
• 辱 disgrace
• 慌 panic
• 惧 dread
• 嚇 menace
• 凄 tremendous

Learn 畏 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.