afraid
英[əˈfreid] 美[əˈfred]
adj.
1.害怕的, 恐惧的
2.担忧, 忧虑; 担心（会发生某事）; 担心, 生怕（将发生不快、不幸或危险的事
3.害怕，畏惧（可能受伤害、受苦） 形容词 adj.
1.害怕的, 恐惧的
I am afraid I can't help you.
恐怕我帮不了你。
“Are you late?” “I am afraid so.”“你晚点了吗?
”“恐怕是晚了。”
2.担忧, 忧虑; 担心（会发生某事）; 担心, 生怕（将发生不快、不幸或危险的事
The mother is very much afraid for her son who is seriously ill.
母亲很担心自己的儿子, 他病得很重。
3.害怕，畏惧（可能受伤害、受苦）
afraid
中古英语affraied, afraied
参考词汇
be afraid , fear , frighten 这三个词都可以表示“怕”的意思。
be afraid of 后可跟名词或动名词，be afraid 后可跟动词不定式，此语的含义是“怕”或“不敢”，be afraid 后可跟that从句，其含义是“恐怕”。
I'm very much afraid I can't.
I wasn't afraid ofthe car. I was afraid of the driver.
我不是怕那辆车，而是怕那个开车的人。
They didn't play volleyball near the window. They were afraid of breaking it.
他们没在窗子附近打排球，他们怕把窗子打破了。
He is afraid to go there.
他不敢到那里去。
I'm afraid I didn't see the speed limit, afficer, I must have been dreaming.
恐怕我没有看见限速标志，警官。我一定思想开小差了。
I'm afraid I don't understand.
抱歉，我不明白你的意思。
fear 可以用作动词，也可以用作名词，其含义也是“怕”，但口语中多用be afraid of.例如：Don't fear the dog. 这句话虽正确，但口语中都说Don't be afraid of the dog.此外，fear that…表示“担心”，稍异于be afraid…。
If, at the time, the British had not feared inversion, it would have been completed.
假如英国人当时不是害怕入侵，这条隧道早就建成了。
They feared that the mummy would fall to pieces when they cut it open.
他们担心在进行解剖手术时，木乃伊会变成碎块。
Her heart was filled with fear when she heard of it.
她听到这件事时，心里充满了恐惧。
frighten 只用作动词，其含义是“吓唬”，“使…害怕”。
afraid 是形容词，但通常不用very修饰，而用very much修饰，特别是在它的含义为“抱歉”时。
……only on one occasion have I ever fell frightened.
我只有一次受惊吓了。
don't frighten me. I'm not afraid.
别恐吓我，我不怕。
I was very sorry for her frightened look.
我对她害怕的样子很难过。
注：afraid 只用作表语，不用作定语。
现代英汉综合大辞典
afraid
[ə'freid]
adj.
[常作表语]
怕, 害怕
[口]恐怕
认为(反驳对方的一种委婉的说法); 很抱歉不得不说; 担心
He is afraid of his own shadow.
他(提心吊胆)连自己的影子都害怕。
I'm afraid (that) I'll be late.
我可能要迟到了。
I'mafraid it's going to rain.
恐怕要下雨了。
I am afraidyou don't see my point.
很抱歉我想你没有明白我的意思。
习惯用语
be afraid of
害怕, 担心
I'm afraid
[口]大概, 恐怕, 担心; 对不起(因为要说不受欢迎的话而用的客套语)
