“Afraid that” in Chinese – kǒngpà

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 恐怕 kǒngpà shows uncertainty, caution, or worry. It’s used when stating something hesitantly. In English, it’s like “I’m afraid that,” “perhaps,” or “probably.” This adverb cannot be negate nor can it be used in questions.

Structure

S + 恐怕 kǒngpà

When using this structure, please remember not to repeat the subject as you would in English. Additionally, since you cannot have two subjects in this structure, the subject before 恐怕 kǒngpà and the implied subject after it must be the same.

他tā恐怕kǒngpà不能bùnéng去qù你的nǐde派對pàiduì他tā恐怕kǒngpà不能bùnéng去qù你的nǐde派对pàiduì
I’m afraid he can’t make it to your party.

我wǒ這zhè週末zhōumò恐怕kǒngpà沒有méiyǒu時間shíjiān我wǒ这zhè周末zhōumò恐怕kǒngpà没有méiyǒu时间shíjiān
I’m afraid I don’t have time this weekend.

明天míngtiān恐怕kǒngpà會huì下雨xiàyǔ， 你nǐ最好zuìhǎo帶dài雨傘yǔsǎn出門chūmén明天míngtiān恐怕kǒngpà会huì下雨xiàyǔ， 你nǐ最好zuìhǎo带dài雨伞yǔsǎn出门chūmén
It’s likely to rain tomorrow, you’d better take an umbrella with you.

這zhè個ge問題wèntí恐怕kǒngpà沒辦法méibànfǎ解決jiějué这zhè个ge问题wèntí恐怕kǒngpà没办法méibànfǎ解决jiějué
This problem might be difficult to solve, I’m afraid.

我wǒ功課gōngkè做zuò不bù完wán， 今晚jīnwǎn恐怕kǒngpà得děi熬夜áoyè了le我wǒ功课gōngkè做zuò不bù完wán， 今晚jīnwǎn恐怕kǒngpà得děi开夜车kāiyèchē了le
I won’t be able to finish my homework; I might have to stay up late tonight.

在zài台灣Táiwān如果rúguǒ撿jiǎn到dào錢包qiánbāo帶dài回家huíjiā， 你nǐ恐怕kǒngpà會huì有yǒu大dà問題wèntí在zài台湾Táiwān如果rúguǒ捡jiǎn到dào钱包qiánbāo带dài回家huíjiā， 你nǐ恐怕kǒngpà会huì有yǒu大dà问题wèntí
If you find a wallet and take it home in Taiwan, you might encounter significant problems.

FYI
In Taiwan, we really care about safety, so we have lots of security cameras everywhere. This matters a lot when you find a wallet and cellphone. Since there are cameras all over public places, you might end up on video if you don’t try to give the wallet back. Cameras make people act ethically, keeping the community values strong. That’s why wallets and phones stay untouched sometimes.

Common Mistakes

他tā恐怕kǒngpà他tā恐怕kǒngpà他tā他tā不能bùnéng去qù你的nǐde派對pàiduì不能bùnéng去qù你的nǐde派对pàiduì X
He is afraid he can’t make it to your party.
(two subjects X)

我wǒ恐怕kǒngpà今天jīntiān天氣tiānqì不好bùhǎo我wǒ恐怕kǒngpà今天jīntiān天气tiānqì不好bùhǎo X
I’m afraid the weather is not good today.
(subject 1 is “I” but subject 2 is “the weather” X)

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I’m afraid I might be 30 minutes late; the traffic is heavy today.

我wǒ恐怕kǒngpà會huì遲到chídào30 分鐘fēnzhōng， 今天jīntiān路lù上shàng很hěn塞sāi我wǒ恐怕kǒngpà会huì迟到chídào30 分钟fēnzhōng， 今天jīntiān路lù上shang很hěn塞sāi

✔️ You haven’t attended class for two weeks, so you might not understand today’s lesson.

你nǐ2 個ge禮拜lǐbài沒méi來lái上課shàngkè， 恐怕kǒngpà會huì聽不懂tīngbùdǒng今天jīntiān的de課kè你nǐ2 个ge礼拜lǐbài没méi来lái上课shàngkè， 恐怕kǒngpà会huì听不懂tīngbudǒng今天jīntiān的de课kè

✔️ If you don’t feed him on time, he might become very irritable.

如果rúguǒ你nǐ沒méi準時zhǔnshí給gěi他tā飯fàn， 他tā恐怕kǒngpà會huì變biàn得de很hěn暴躁bàozào如果rúguǒ你nǐ没méi准时zhǔnshí给gěi他tā饭fàn， 他tā恐怕kǒngpà会huì变biàn得de很hěn暴躁bàozào

• “Afraid” in Chinese (怕 pà, 害怕 hàipà, 可怕 kěpà, and 恐怕 kǒngpà)