Chinese phrases
How to say scared in Chinese
Scared in Chinese is 害怕 (hài pà): 我很害怕, “I’m scared.” To say what scares you, people usually use 怕 (pà): 我怕狗, “I’m afraid of dogs.”
害怕
scared; afraid
Ways to say scared
害怕
Everydayscared; afraid
How you feel right now, or what you fear: 我有点害怕, “I’m a bit scared.”
怕
Everydayto be afraid of
Shorter, and the usual verb before a thing: 我怕黑, “I’m afraid of the dark.”
吓死我了
With friendsthat scared me to death!
Right after a fright: a loud bang, a near miss on a bike, someone behind you in the dark.
吓我一跳
With friendsyou made me jump
For a sudden surprise, not real fear. Often 你吓我一跳 to the person who did it.
吓人
Everydayscary
Describes the thing, not you: a film, a dark street, a big dog. 好吓人, “so scary.”
我怕
EverydayI’m afraid that…
For a worry about what might happen: 我怕来不及, “I’m afraid we won’t make it in time.”
胆小
With friendseasily scared; timid
About a person. 我胆子小 is how people say it about themselves, and 胆小鬼 is a teasing “scaredy-cat.”
Common mistakes
Saying 我很吓人
吓人 means “scary,” so 我很吓人 is “I’m scary.” For “I got scared,” say 我很害怕 or 我被吓到了.
害怕 for a polite “I’m afraid”
In “I’m afraid I can’t come,” English is not talking about fear. 我害怕我不能来 sounds frightened. Say 恐怕不行, “I’m afraid not,” or 不好意思，我去不了.
害怕 before an exam
When English says “I’m scared about the exam,” Chinese usually says nervous: 我好紧张.
Film night
晚上一起看恐怖片吧？
Qiqi: Shall we watch a horror film tonight?
不要，我害怕。
Leon: No way, I’m scared.
有我在，怕什么？
Qiqi: I’m here. What are you afraid of?
我怕晚上睡不着。
Leon: I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep.
