afraid

adj

• ① 害怕的,畏惧的;不情愿的(=unwilling)
  • Don't be afraid.不要怕。
  • She is afraid of dogs.她怕狗。
  • Don't be afraid of him.别怕他。
  • She was terribly afraid of offending him.她生怕得罪他。
  • She is afraid of going out alone.她不敢单独去。
  • Don't be afraid to ask questions.不要怕发问(★afraid of V-ing 表示对某行动的畏惧或顾虑; afraid to-V 暗示对某特定时候的行动有所不能或不情愿)。

• ② 担忧,担心
  • He was afraid (that) he might fail.他担心会失败。
  • I was afraid lest I should offend him.我唯恐得罪他(★用 lest 者为【文】)。

• ③[用于缓和语气,为要说不受欢迎的话而常用的客套]恐怕…
  • I'm afraid [I'm sorry] I cannot agree.(说起来很遗憾)恐怕我不能同意(★如此用时, that 常被省去)。
  • Is it true?－I'm afraid so [I'm afraid not].「那是真的吗?」「恐怕是的[不是的]」。