恐怕

kǒng

Traditional: 恐怕

#1172 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

I am afraid, perhaps, probably

Word origin

A compound of 恐 meaning to fear and 怕 meaning to be afraid, both with the heart radical. Together they soften a statement to I am afraid that.

Origin
compound
Root
恐 (kǒng, fear) + 怕 (pà, afraid)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 恐

Stroke order for 怕

Examples

I am afraid he will not come.

This matter is, I fear, very hard.

I am afraid I cannot help.

I am afraid there is not enough time.

He probably already knows.

恐怕 (kǒngpà) means I am afraid, perhaps, probably. It politely flags an unwelcome or uncertain prospect.

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This word is part of lesson 24.