Expressing concern with "kongpa"

恐怕 (kǒngpà) can be used to express "I'm afraid that," or "I'm concerned that," or even "I'm worried that," followed by some sort of reason. It doesn't need to be something you're literally afraid of; it may be that you're just trying to soften the blow of some bad news, as in, "I'm afraid that I'm too busy washing my hair tomorrow night to come over and see the 2000 pictures of your trip to ComicCon."

Structure

恐怕 comes at the beginning of the sentence. It's often used with auxiliary verbs such as 要, 会, 能, 得, etc.

(Reason,) 恐怕 + Subj. ⋯⋯

Note that it sounds better to put 恐怕 before the subject of the sentence.

Examples

• 今天 恐怕 要 下雨 。Jīntiān kǒngpà yào xià yǔ.I'm afraid it's going to rain today.
• 这 件 事 恐怕 得 你 帮忙 。Zhè jiàn shì kǒngpà děi nǐ bāngmáng.I'm afraid we're going to need your help with this matter.
• 这样 做 恐怕 不太 合适 。Zhèyàng zuò kǒngpà bù tài héshì.I'm afraid it's not appropriate to do this.
• 这 是 很 重要 的 决定 ，你 恐怕 不 能 这么 着急 。Zhè shì hěn zhòngyào de juédìng, nǐ kǒngpà bù néng zhème zhāojí.This is an important decision. I'm afraid you can't rush this one.
• 老婆 ，我 晚上 要 加班 ，恐怕 不 能 回家 吃 晚饭 了 。Lǎopo, wǒ wǎnshang yào jiābān, kǒngpà bù néng huíjiā chī wǎnfàn le.Dear, I'm going to work late tonight. I'm afraid I can't go home to eat dinner.
• 这个 颜色 太 粉 了 ，恐怕 我女儿 不 喜欢 。Zhège yánsè tài fěn le, kǒngpà wǒ nǚ'ér bù xǐhuan.This pink is too much. I'm afraid my daughter isn't going to like it.
• 你 现在 知道 被 骗 了 ？恐怕 骗子 早就 跑了 。Nǐ xiànzài zhīdào bèi piàn le? Kǒngpà piànzi zǎo jiù pǎo le.You finally realized that you were ripped off? I'm afraid the scammer is long gone.

恐怕 is also often used in conjunction with 吧. When it is used with 吧, it expresses a soft but concerned tone and is typically used when the speaker wishes to give their advice or opinion on a matter.

• 恐怕 没 那么 容易 吧 。Kǒngpà méi nàme róngyì ba.I'm afraid it's not that easy.
• 一个人 去 那个 地方 恐怕 不太 安全 吧 。Yīgèrén qù nàge dìfang kǒngpà bù tài ānquán ba.I'm afraid it's not safe to go there alone.
• 你 这样 说 ，恐怕 她 会 不 高兴 吧 。Nǐ zhèyàng shuō, kǒngpà tā huì bù gāoxìng ba.If you put it that way, I'm afraid she will be upset.

See also

• "Would like to" with xiang
• Wanting to do something with yao
• Auxiliary verb
• Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"

Sources and further reading

Videos

• Yoyo Chinese: "Have to and Don't have to"

Books

• HSK Standard Course 4下 (pp. 76) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 164-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 301) [ →buy]

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