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March 24, 2026
怕pà(Pa4)
The character 怕 (pà) primarily means 'to be afraid' or 'to fear.' It is commonly used in contexts expressing anxiety, apprehension, or dread about something. For instance, you might say '我怕黑' (wǒ pà hēi) meaning 'I am afraid of the dark.'
Strokes8Radical忄Frequency#720DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, discussing fear openly can be seen as a sign of vulnerability, and people may prefer to express such emotions indirectly. Additionally, the concept of fear is often associated with respect for authority or tradition, where fear can signify caution.
Memory tip
Imagine a person with a fearful expression (the character 怕 resembles a person in a state of fear), clenching their fists in dread. The left side of the character, 心 (xīn), represents the heart, suggesting that fear comes from the heart. Remembering 'Heart's Apprehension' can help you associate the form with the meaning and the sound 'pà.'
Meanings of 怕
pà(Pa4)
1to be afraid
2to fear
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 怕
怕Simplified
8Strokes
忄Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#720Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 怕
Podcast: 怕
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AI study notes for 怕
Quick Contrast
害怕 (hàipà) - use 怕 (pà) when expressing a general sense of fear, while 害怕 (hàipà) often implies a fear that is more specific or tied to harm.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include misusing 怕 in formal contexts where a more neutral term may be appropriate. It is often used in informal conversation to express fear or worry, but be careful not to overuse it in professional settings. A common collocation is '怕出事' (pà chū shì), meaning 'afraid something will happen.'
HSK Study Tips
Though 怕 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is relevant for learners at HSK 2 and above due to its practical application in everyday conversation. Focus on using it in sentences expressing fear or apprehension, as well as recognizing it in various contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 怕 with the similar-sounding verb '怕' and mistakenly use it in contexts that require '害怕' (hài pà) for a stronger sense of fear. For example, saying '我怕蛇' (wǒ pà shé) is correct, but in a more intense context, it should be '我害怕蛇' (wǒ hài pà shé).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 怕
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Knowing 怕 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
怕 = 忄 + 白. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 怕
IDS Structure⿰忄白
怕Full character
=
忄xin1
left
白Bai2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 怕?
How to say to be afraid in Chinese
“to be afraid” in Chinese is怕pà
The character 怕 (pà) primarily means 'to be afraid' or 'to fear.' It is commonly used in contexts expressing anxiety, apprehension, or dread about something. For instance, you might say '我怕黑' (wǒ pà hēi) meaning 'I am afraid of the dark.'
When to use 怕
Common mistakes include misusing 怕 in formal contexts where a more neutral term may be appropriate. It is often used in informal conversation to express fear or worry, but be careful not to overuse it in professional settings. A common collocation is '怕出事' (pà chū shì), meaning 'afraid something will happen.'
怕 or something close to it
害怕 (hàipà) - use 怕 (pà) when expressing a general sense of fear, while 害怕 (hàipà) often implies a fear that is more specific or tied to harm.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 怕 with the similar-sounding verb '怕' and mistakenly use it in contexts that require '害怕' (hài pà) for a stronger sense of fear. For example, saying '我怕蛇' (wǒ pà shé) is correct, but in a more intense context, it should be '我害怕蛇' (wǒ hài pà shé).
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怕
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Grammar patterns of 怕
怕 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
I see your point but I'm not sure I agree with you.
6
我隐隐觉得他们恐怕要成功了。
wǒ yǐn yǐn juéde tāmen kǒngpà yào chénggōng le。
I have a sneaking suspicion that they are going to succeed.
7
这正是洞穴探险者害怕的那种洪水。
zhè zhèngshì dòngxué tànxiǎn zhě hàipà de nà zhǒng hóngshuǐ。
This is the type of flood dreaded by cavers.
8
我所从事的职业中暗藏着如此深的种族主义偏见，这让我感到害怕。
wǒ suǒ cóngshì de zhíyè zhōng àn cáng zhe rúcǐ shēn de zhǒngzú zhǔyì piānjiàn， zhè ràng wǒ gǎndào hàipà。
The depth of covert racism in my own profession frightens me.
9
这是我记忆中最可怕的一晚。
zhè shì wǒ jìyì zhōng zuì kěpà de yī wǎn。
This is the most awful evening I can ever remember.
10
一声尖叫打破了这可怕的沉寂。
yī shēng jiān jiào dǎpò le zhè kěpà de chén jì。
The unearthly silence was broken by a shrill screaming.
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Cultural Notes for 怕
💡Did you know?
'怕' is often used in Chinese to express fear in various contexts, whether it's fear of animals, situations, or even fear of failure. This reflects a cultural emphasis on emotional expression.
📜Proverb
In Chinese culture, there is a saying: '怕什么就来什么' which means 'What you fear will come to you.' This reflects the belief in the power of thoughts and fears.
Word Family of 怕
Words containing this character20
怕pàto fear
害怕hàipàto be afraid
可怕kěpàawful
恐怕kǒngpàfear
不怕búpàfearless
哪怕nǎpàeven
只怕zhǐpàperhaps
惧怕jùpàto be afraid懼怕
生怕shēngpàto fear
后怕hòupàlingering fear後怕
担惊受怕dānjīngshòupàto feel apprehensive擔驚受怕
怕事pàshìtimid
贪生怕死tānshēngpàsǐclinging abjectly to life貪生怕死
怕生pàshēngfear of strangers
天不怕地不怕tiānbúpàdìbúpàfearless
初生牛犊不怕虎chūshēngniúdúbúpàhǔfig. the young are fearless初生牛犢不怕虎
怕羞pàxiūcoy
酒香不怕巷子深jiǔxiāngbúpàxiàngzishēnfragrant wine fears no dark alley (idiom)
死猪不怕开水烫sǐzhūbúpàkāishuǐtàngundaunted死豬不怕開水燙
人怕出名猪怕壮rénpàchūmíngzhūpàzhuàngfig. fame has its price人怕出名豬怕壯
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 怕
What does 害怕 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 怕
怕 (pà) specifically conveys fear or dread, while words like 惧 (jù) or 恐惧 (kǒngjù) can imply a more intense form of fear. Understanding the context in which these words are used can help clarify their meanings.
Common phrases using 怕 (pà) include '怕什么' (pà shénme), meaning 'what is there to fear?' and '我怕你' (Wǒ pà nǐ), which translates to 'I fear you'. These phrases can enhance your conversational skills in expressing fear or apprehension.
怕 (pà) means 'to fear' or 'to dread' in Chinese. It can also imply an inability to endure something or express a sense of apprehension. In some contexts, it can be used to convey uncertainty, similar to saying 'perhaps'.
To use 怕 (pà) in a sentence, you can structure it like this: '我怕黑' (Wǒ pà hēi), which means 'I fear the dark'. You can also use it in conditional phrases, such as '如果你怕的话' (Rúguǒ nǐ pà de huà), meaning 'If you are afraid'.
You can use it as '我怕失败' (wǒ pà shī bài), meaning 'I am afraid of failure.'
It is primarily used in informal language; in formal contexts, consider using terms like '担心' (dān xīn) for 'to worry'.
The opposite would be words like '勇敢' (yǒng gǎn), meaning 'brave' or 'courageous.'
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