The kanji 虞 primarily conveys the idea of "concern," "worry," or "anxiety." It suggests a state of mental unease or apprehension about a potential danger or undesirable outcome. It can also imply caution and vigilance.

・On-yomi (音読み): グ (gu) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): おそれ (osore)

⚫︎ 危機を虞れる Translation: To be concerned about a crisis. ⚫︎ 虞慮なく発言する Translation: To speak without worry or hesitation. ⚫︎ 虞心なく行動する Translation: To act without caution or fear.

The kanji 虞 is a 形声文字 (keisei moji), a phono-semantic compound character. The character is composed of the radical 虍 (tora-kobu, "tiger's head") on the top and 吳 (go) on the bottom, with 吳acting as the phonetic component, indicating the sound, and 虍providing the semantic element, hinting at danger. Tigers are often associated with danger, and the combination creates the meaning of "concern" or "anxiety". The original form of 虞 might have depicted a person looking at a tiger, a symbol of danger, thus evoking the emotion of worry. Over time, the character evolved to its current form.