Synonym of Afraid in Chinese

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害怕 · 可怕 · 恐怕 · 怕 — 近義詞辨析
Similar words

害怕 hàipà · 可怕 kěpà · 恐怕 kǒngpà · 怕 pà

Four ways to say “afraid” in Mandarin — and how to pick the right one every time.

In English, afraid, fear, and scary are simple. In Mandarin, expressing fear means choosing between an inner psychological state 害怕 hàipà, a scary trait or object 可怕 kěpà, a polite estimation or concern 恐怕 kǒngpà, or the flexible, all-purpose verb 怕 pà.

一

害怕 hàipà

Verb · Psychological State

害怕 hàipà is a verb meaning “to be afraid of” or “to feel scared.” It describes a person’s feeling of fear or worry about someone or something.

Subject + 害怕hàipà + Object
我wǒ害怕hàipà鬼guǐ。
I am afraid of ghosts.
妈妈māma害怕hàipà蟑螂zhāngláng。
Mom is afraid of cockroaches.
妹妹mèimei很hěn害怕hàipà站在zhànzài高处gāochù。
My younger sister is very afraid of standing in high places.
小朋友xiǎopéngyǒu通常tōngcháng很hěn害怕hàipà看医生kàn yīshēng。
Children are usually very scared of seeing the doctor.
你nǐ不用búyòng害怕hàipà犯错fàncuò。
You don’t need to be afraid of making mistakes.
二

可怕 kěpà

Adjective · Fearful Trait

Unlike 害怕 hàipà, 可怕 kěpà is an adjective meaning “scary,” “terrible,” or “frightening.” It describes a person, situation, or thing that causes fear in others.

Subject + (很 / 超級) + 可怕kěpà
鬼guǐ超级chāojí可怕kěpà。
Ghosts are super scary.
妈妈māma觉得juéde蟑螂zhāngláng很hěn可怕kěpà。
Mom thinks cockroaches are very scary.
昨天的zuótiān de地震dìzhèn真zhēn可怕kěpà。
Yesterday’s earthquake was truly terrifying.
我wǒ昨天zuótiān做了一个zuò le yí gè很hěn可怕的kěpà de梦mèng。
I had a very scary dream yesterday.
他tā生气时的shēngqì shí de眼神yǎnshén非常fēicháng可怕kěpà。
The look in his eyes when he is angry is extremely terrifying.
三

恐怕 kǒngpà

Adverb · Estimation / Concern

恐怕 kǒngpà is an adverb expressing concern or estimation about an unfavorable outcome (“I’m afraid that…”). It is used for polite softening or giving bad news.

(Clause) + 恐怕kǒngpà + Clause
这zhè周末zhōumò恐怕kǒngpà没有méiyǒu时间shíjiān。
I’m afraid I don’t have time this weekend.
今天的jīntiān de高铁票gāotiě piào恐怕kǒngpà已经yǐjīng卖光了mài guāng le。
I’m afraid high-speed rail tickets for today are already sold out.
我们wǒmen恐怕kǒngpà来不及láibují赶上gǎnshàng末班车mòbānchē。
I’m afraid we won’t make it in time to catch the last bus.
这件事zhè jiàn shì恐怕kǒngpà没有méiyǒu你想的nǐ xiǎng de那么nàme简单jiǎndān。
I’m afraid this matter is not as simple as you think.
他tā说shuō他tā恐怕kǒngpà明天míngtiān到不了dàobùliǎo。
He said he’s afraid he won’t be able to make it tomorrow.
四

怕 pà

Flexible Core

怕 pà is the most versatile word. It can replace 害怕 hàipà (scared of a noun) and 恐怕 kǒngpà (concern or worry). Crucially, unlike 恐怕, 怕 can take full clauses with 我 and secondary subjects (e.g. 我怕他…). It also means “cannot stand / bear something.”

Subject + 怕pà + Object / Clause
我wǒ怕pà鬼guǐ。
I am afraid of ghosts. (Replaces 害怕)
我wǒ怕pà明天míngtiān会huì下雨xiàyǔ。
I’m afraid it will rain tomorrow. (Perfectly natural with 我 + 怕!)
弟弟dìdi很hěn怕pà热rè。
My younger brother can’t stand the heat.
我wǒ特别tèbié怕pà辣là。
I really can’t handle spicy food.
老爷爷lǎoyéye一个人住yí gè rén zhù，很hěn怕pà寂寞jìmò。
The old grandpa lives alone and is very afraid of loneliness.
05  ·  Watch Out

Common Pitfalls

可怕 kěpà — don’t use it as a verb
✕我wǒ可怕kěpà我wǒ的de老师lǎoshī
✓我wǒ害怕hàipà／怕pà我wǒ的de老师lǎoshī

可怕 is an adjective (scary), not a verb. Saying “I 可怕 my teacher” confuses who feels the fear with what causes it. To say “I am afraid of…,” use 害怕 or 怕 instead.

恐怕 kǒngpà — rarely paired with 我 + clause
✕我wǒ恐怕kǒngpà他tā不能bùnéng来lái。
✓恐怕kǒngpà他tā不能bùnéng来lái。
✓我wǒ怕pà他tā不能bùnéng来lái。
✕我wǒ恐怕kǒngpà明天míngtiān会huì下雨xiàyǔ。
✓明天míngtiān恐怕kǒngpà会huì下雨xiàyǔ。
✓我wǒ怕pà明天míngtiān会huì下雨xiàyǔ。

English speakers often translate “I’m afraid that…” directly as 我恐怕…, but 恐怕 already carries the speaker’s concern, so “I” is usually dropped and understood from context. These sentences aren’t ungrammatical — they just sound formal and unnatural in daily conversation. To clearly mark your own worry, use 我怕… instead.

06  ·  At a Glance

Quick Comparison

WordPart of SpeechCore MeaningTypical Structure
害怕hàipà Verb to feel afraid / scared of something Subject + 害怕 + Object
可怕kěpà Adjective scary, frightening, terrible Subject + 很 / 超級 + 可怕
恐怕kǒngpà Adverb “I’m afraid that…” (estimate / concern) (Clause) + 恐怕 + Clause — rarely 我恐怕
怕pà Flexible verb afraid of / worried that / can’t stand Subject + 怕 + Object / Clause (incl. 我怕…)
07  ·  Practice

Practice Quiz

PRACTICE QUIZ Question 1 of 10
This movie is too scary, I don’t dare watch it.
这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng太tài    了le，我wǒ不敢bùgǎn看kàn。
Don’t speak so loudly. I’m afraid he might get angry.
你nǐ别bié那么nàme大声dàshēng说话shuōhuà，我wǒ    他tā会huì生气shēngqì。
This dog looks scary, but is actually very gentle.
这zhè只zhī狗gǒu长得zhǎngde很hěn    ，可是kěshì其实qíshí很hěn温柔wēnróu。
I caught a cold, so I’m afraid I can’t attend today’s party.
我wǒ有点yǒudiǎn感冒gǎnmào，    不能bùnéng参加cānjiā聚会jùhuì了le。
I used to be very scared of getting shots when I was a kid.
我wǒ小时候xiǎoshíhòu很hěn    打针dǎzhēn。
I can’t stand spicy food. Do you have non-spicy dishes?
我wǒ很hěn    辣là，有没有yǒuméiyǒu不辣的búlà de菜cài？
This is too difficult. I’m afraid I can’t help you.
这zhè太难tàinán了le，我wǒ    不能bùnéng帮bāng你nǐ。
This place is too scary, let’s get out of here.
这zhè地方dìfāng太tài    了le，我们wǒmen还是háishì走吧zǒu ba。
I’m afraid that he will forget our appointment.
我wǒ    他tā会huì忘记wàngjì我们的wǒmen de约定yuēdìng。
He said he’s afraid he won’t be able to make it tomorrow.
他tā说shuō他tā    明天míngtiān到不了dàobùliǎo。
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