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

HSK 1

只怕他今天不会来了。

Zhǐpà tā jīntiān búhuì lái le.

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

HSK 3

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 (certainly). Common in both formal and colloquial speech.

Stroke Order

只 zhǐ

怕 pà