恐怕 (kǒng pà) — (verb) to fear, to dread; (adverb) I'm afraid that...; perhaps (polite, cautious speculation)
Definition
As an adverb, 恐怕 is a polite, cautious 'I'm afraid… / perhaps' — softer than 怕's blunt 'maybe', more tentative than 可能 ('possibly'). The verb sense 'to fear' is rare and formal.
verb
to fearto dread
adverb
I'm afraid that...perhaps (polite, cautious speculation)
Examples
- 恐怕，。Tā kǒng pà chí dào, suǒ yǐ jīn tiān qǐ dé hěn zǎo.He was afraid of being late, so he got up very early today.
- 恐怕，。kǒng pà Míng tiān huì xià yǔ, nǐ dài sǎn ba.I'm afraid it might rain tomorrow. Take an umbrella.
- 恐怕。kǒng pà Tā bú huì tóng yì wǒ men de jì huà.I'm afraid he won't agree with our plan.
Grammar
Appears in
Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.