害怕

hàipà

verb HSK 3 #529

Meanings

Both characters relate to fear — together they form the standard word for 'to be scared'

她害怕黑暗。

Tā hàipà hēi'àn.

She's afraid of the dark.

不要害怕，我在这里。

Búyào hàipà, wǒ zài zhèlǐ.

Don't be afraid, I'm here.

我小时候害怕打雷。

Wǒ xiǎoshíhou hàipà dǎléi.

When I was little, I was scared of thunder.

他害怕一个人在家。

Tā hàipà yī gè rén zài jiā.

He's afraid of being home alone.

grammar

害怕 + noun/verb phrase: 害怕蛇 (afraid of snakes), 害怕失败 (afraid of failure). You can also say 怕 alone as a shorter form.

害 hài

怕 pà