tai2 paa3睇怕
Jyutpingtai2 paa3
Yaletái pa
Definition
Used to politely forecast or express fear of bad news; I'm afraid that.
colloquialother
How it's used
Expresses a cautious or pessimistic prediction about a future event. It functions as a softening device to deliver disappointing news or to express a personal opinion that something undesirable is likely to happen. Unlike a direct statement, it adds a layer of distance between the speaker and the negative outcome.
Examples
I'm afraid it's going to rain today, better take an umbrella.
I'm afraid you won't make it to work on time tomorrow, right?
Related words
Common phrases
it seems likely that it will be
I'm afraid it won't work
Common mistake
Avoid using this to express fear in the sense of being scared of something. It is strictly for making predictions or estimations, not for describing an emotional state of fright.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
