怕 pà
“to be afraid; to fear; to dread”
verb2021 list level 2
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
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 790: 怕 pà — Level 3; official annotation 3（4） (动、（副）). PDF page 99
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 怕
怕 (pà) is a common verb meaning 'to be afraid of' or 'to worry that'; it can be followed directly by a noun, a verb phrase, or a clause. In expressions like 怕冷 and 怕热 it means to be sensitive to or unable to endure cold/heat. The pattern 怕是 + clause is a colloquial adverb meaning 'probably/maybe'; the capitalized surname Pà is a separate proper-noun reading.
例句Example sentences
- 我妹妹很怕狗，一看到狗就跑。wǒ mèi mei hěn pà gǒu, yí kàn dào gǒu jiù pǎo.My younger sister is very afraid of dogs; she runs away as soon as she sees one.
- 我怕迟到，所以每天都很早出门。wǒ pà chí dào, suǒ yǐ měi tiān dōu hěn zǎo chū mén.I'm afraid of being late, so I leave home early every day.
- 这么晚了，他怕是不会来了。zhè me wǎn le, tā pà shì bú huì lái le.It's so late that he probably won't come.
易混词Easily confused
怕vs害怕
害怕 also means 'be afraid', but it describes the feeling of being scared and is less likely to take a clause; 怕 is more versatile and can mean 'worry that' or appear in 怕是 'probably'.
义项All meanings
- Pà: surname Pa
- pà: to be afraid; to fear; to dread; to be unable to endure; perhaps