害怕 hài pà
“to be afraid; to be scared”
verb, verb / nounHSK 3 · 2021 list level 3
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
害怕 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 662: 害怕 hàipà — Level 3; official annotation 3 (动). PDF page 96
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 害怕
害怕 means "to be afraid or scared." It is used like a stative verb: you can say 很害怕, or put the thing feared after it, as in 害怕狗 or 害怕一个人在家. A common pattern is 害怕 + noun/verb phrase, and 别害怕 means "don't be afraid."
例句Example sentences
- 我妹妹很害怕狗。wǒ mèi mei hěn hài pà gǒu.My younger sister is very afraid of dogs.
- 别害怕，我在这里。bié hài pà, wǒ zài zhè lǐ.Don't be afraid, I'm here.
- 他害怕一个人在家。tā hài pà yí gè rén zài jiā.He is afraid to be home alone.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我害怕很。
✓我很害怕。
很 is a degree adverb and must come before 害怕, not after it.
易混词Easily confused
害怕vs怕
怕 also means "to be afraid" and is more colloquial; it can additionally mean "worry that" or "probably," while 害怕 only expresses fear.