Meaning of 害怕
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to be afraid; to be scared
How to use 害怕
害怕 is the everyday word for being scared. It can stand alone or take an object directly, with no preposition needed. Example: 我害怕狗。(Wǒ hàipà gǒu.) I am afraid of dogs.
Think of 害怕 (hàipà) as "harm" plus "fear." 害 (hài) means harm, and 怕 (pà) has the heart radical 忄 on the left, so you feel fear in your heart when you sense harm coming.
Common mistake: Learners often add 对 or 从 before the object, as in 我对狗害怕. Just say 我害怕狗 (wǒ hàipà gǒu). Also keep both syllables in the fourth tone, hàipà, and do not confuse 怕 (pà) with 拍 (pāi, to clap), which has the hand radical 扌.
害怕 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
害 hài · to do harm to · 10 strokes
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怕 pà · to be afraid · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 害怕.
| 可怕 | kěpà | awful; dreadful |
| 恐怕 | kǒngpà | fear; to dread |
| 危害 | wēihài | to harm; to jeopardize; to endanger; harmful effect; damage |
| 伤害 | shānghài | to injure; to harm |
| 哪怕 | nǎpà | even; even if |
| 厉害 | lìhai | (used to describe sb or sth that makes a very strong impression, whether favorable or unfa |
| 损害 | sǔnhài | harm; to damage |
| 有害 | yǒu hài | destructive; harmful |
| 灾害 | zāihài | calamity; disaster |
| 杀害 | shāhài | to murder |
| 害羞 | hàixiū | shy; embarrassed |
| 受害人 | shòuhàirén | victim |
Questions about 害怕
What does 害怕 mean?
害怕 (hàipà) means "to be afraid; to be scared".
How do you write 害怕?
害怕 is made of 2 characters: 害 (10 strokes), 怕 (8 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 害怕 an HSK word?
Yes. 害怕 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 害怕 and 怕?
Both mean to be afraid, and they are often interchangeable. 怕 (pà) is shorter and more casual, and it can also mean "I am worried that" in a softer way, as in 我怕他不来 (Wǒ pà tā bù lái), I am afraid he will not come. 害怕 sounds a bit more like real fear.
How do I say "don't be afraid" in Chinese?
Say 别害怕 (bié hàipà) or 不要害怕 (bú yào hàipà). Both are common when comforting someone. In casual speech, 别怕 (bié pà) is also very natural.