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恐怕 (I'm afraid / probably)
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Running late
- You are stuck in traffic and the train leaves in ten minutes.
- I'm afraid恐怕there's not enough time (to…来不及(completed / change)了。 — "I'm afraid we won't make it."
I'm afraid恐怕 + guess = I'm afraid, probably
- I'm afraid恐怕 introduces a guess, usually about something unwelcome: "I'm afraid …, probably …".
- It can start the sentence or follow the subject: I'm afraid恐怕he他won't不会come来(completed / change)了 / he他I'm afraid恐怕won't不会come来(completed / change)了.
he他I'm afraid恐怕won't不会come来了。
Soften the news: “I'm afraid the tickets are sold out.” ____票已经卖完了。
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恐怕 introduces an unwelcome guess.
Softening bad news
- 这件matter事I'm afraid恐怕slightly有点儿difficult / hard难。 — "I'm afraid this may be a bit difficult."
- tomorrow明天I'm afraid恐怕will要rain下雨。 — "It'll probably rain tomorrow, I'm afraid."
tomorrow明天probably恐怕will要rain下雨。
Build: “It'll probably rain tomorrow, I'm afraid.”
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恐怕 can start the sentence, before the prediction.
A guess, not fear
- I'm afraid恐怕 is a cautious prediction, not "be scared of": "I'm scared of dogs" is 我怕dog狗, not I / me我I'm afraid恐怕dog狗.
- It usually goes with unwelcome news; for a neutral guess, maybe可能 is better: he他maybe可能to be at home在家.
Which says “My little sister is scared of the dark”?
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Being scared of something is 怕; 恐怕 is a cautious guess.
I'm afraid恐怕 versus maybe可能
- maybe可能 = maybe, neutral: he他maybe可能come来, also也maybe可能not不come来.
- I'm afraid恐怕 = probably, with regret: he他I'm afraid恐怕come来(as a resultative verb…不了(completed / change)了 — "I'm afraid he can't come."
he他maybe可能be at在home家。
恐怕 usually goes with welcome news.
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It usually softens unwelcome news; 可能 is neutral.
Recap
- I'm afraid恐怕 + guess = I'm afraid / probably, softening bad news.
- Not "be afraid of" (to be afraid怕); neutral guesses use maybe可能.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Adverbs.
You are stuck in traffic and the train leaves in ten minutes. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.