Dictionary🇨🇳 Chinese → 🇺🇸 English

恐怕

kǒngpà

Description

"恐怕"用来说一件可能会发生的、不太好的事情。

"恐怕" is used to talk about something that might happen and is not very good.

它常常放在句子前面,表示说话人担心或不太确定。

It is often placed at the beginning of a sentence to show the speaker's worry or uncertainty.

Meanings

恐怕kǒngpà

probably; I'm afraid (expressing worried guess)

天太黑了,我恐怕找不到路。

It's too dark; I'm afraid I can't find the way.

恐怕kǒngpà

to fear that; to be afraid that

我恐怕明天会下雨。

I'm afraid it will rain tomorrow.

Related words

Notes

  • Etymology

    恐 (to fear) + 怕 (to be afraid), two near-synonyms combined for emphasis.

  • Nuance

    unlike 可能, 恐怕 adds a tone of worry about an unwanted outcome.

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