Ichidan verb, intransitive verb

  1. to become frightened, to be frightened (of), to be scared (of).

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
 
 
怯える おびえる
 
 
脅える おびえる
 
 
悸える おびえる

Contained Kanji Breakdown

cowardice, wince, flinch
キョウ おび.える ひる.む (Kentei Pre-1)
heart, standing heart radical variant (no. 61)
シン こころ
gone, past, quit
さ.る コ キョ (3rd, N4)
soil, earth, ground
ド つち は (1st, N5)
I, myself, katakana mu radical (no. 28)
シ ボウ ム (Kentei 1)