Meaning of 彼は自殺の恐れがある


> 彼は自殺の恐れがある

So does this sentence mean...

> (1) He is afraid of suicide  
>  (2) He is suicidal

If it's (1), how would the sentence change to mean (2)? Or vice versa.




～の恐れ only means either of those things:

  * possessive: 

> 彼の恐れ _his fear_

  * modifier: 

> 一瞬の恐れ _a momentary fear; a flash of fear_

  * "worrisome possibility of" (risk/susceptibility...): 

> 逃亡の恐れ _being a flight risk_  
>  大雪の恐れ _(unwelcome) likelihood of heavy snow_

So your sentence always means (2). Similarly, [clause] + 恐れ is always
appositive, such as:

> 地震で倒壊する恐れ _risk of collapsing during an earthquake_

Although, as verb, 恐れる "fear" takes a direct object such as 人を恐れる "be afraid
of people", its synonymous noun phrase is made with ～への恐れ or ～に対する恐れ, thus:

> 自殺の恐れ _possibility of suicide_  
>  自殺への恐れ _being afraid of committing suicide_

* * *

**PS** : In my third definition, ～のおそれ should be prescriptively [spelled with
虞 instead of
恐れ](https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkashingikai/kokugo/hokoku/pdf/ijidokun_140221.pdf),
but it is not obeyed by many.




～の恐れ only means either of those things:

  * possessive: 

> 彼の恐れ _his fear_

  * modifier: 

> 一瞬の恐れ _a momentary fear; a flash of fear_

  * "worrisome possibility of" (risk/susceptibility...): 

> 逃亡の恐れ _being a flight risk_  
>  大雪の恐れ _(unwelcome) likelihood of heavy snow_

So your sentence always means (2). Similarly, [clause] + 恐れ is always
appositive, such as:

> 地震で倒壊する恐れ _risk of collapsing during an earthquake_

Although, as verb, 恐れる "fear" takes a direct object such as 人を恐れる "be afraid
of people", its synonymous noun phrase is made with ～への恐れ or ～に対する恐れ, thus:

> 自殺の恐れ _possibility of suicide_  
>  自殺への恐れ _being afraid of committing suicide_

* * *

**PS** : In my third definition, ～のおそれ should be prescriptively [spelled with
虞 instead of
恐れ](https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkashingikai/kokugo/hokoku/pdf/ijidokun_140221.pdf),
but it is not obeyed by many.

