只怕

zhǐpà

adverb #22,897

Meanings

1 I'm afraid that...
2 perhaps
3 maybe
4 very likely
5 I fear that

Characters

to fear / to be afraid of

Examples

只怕他今天不会来了。

Zhǐpà tā jīntiān bùhuì lái le.

I'm afraid he won't be coming today.

这件事只怕没那么简单。

Zhè jiàn shì zhǐpà méi nàme jiǎndān.

This matter is very likely not so simple.

Tips

usage

只怕 expresses a speaker's concern or apprehension about a likely but undesired outcome. It's softer and more tentative than 肯定 (kěndìng, certainly). Common in both formal and colloquial speech.

Stroke Order

只 zhǐ

怕 pà