hoi6 paa3害怕
Jyutpinghoi6 paa3
Yalehoih pa
Definition
To be afraid or scared; to feel fear or anxiety in the face of danger.
writtenemotion
How it's used
害怕 is the formal, written version of the colloquial word 驚. In spoken Cantonese, you will almost exclusively hear 驚, while 害怕 is reserved for news reports, formal essays, or dramatic storytelling. Using 害怕 in casual conversation can sound stiff or overly serious.
Examples
He seems to be very afraid of that stranger.
Are you afraid of staying home alone?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 害怕 in everyday speech because it is the direct translation of the Mandarin word, but it sounds unnatural in a casual setting. Stick to 驚 for daily interactions to sound more like a local.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
