exPreSSiNG Fear, Worry, aNd aNxiety
55.2
害怕 hàipà ‘to be afraid’
我很害怕。
Wǒ hěn hàipà.
I’m very afraid.
恐惧/恐懼 kǒngjù ‘to be terrified’ (literary expression used in formal speech and writing)
北京的雾霾让很多外国游客恐惧。
北京的霧霾讓很多外國遊客恐懼。
Běijīng de wùmái ràng hěn duō wàiguó yóukè kǒngjù.
The Beijing smog has frightened a lot of foreign tourists.
恐惧/恐懼 kǒngjù is also used as a noun, meaning ‘fear’ or ‘terror.’
一想到战争的可能性，我心里就充满了恐惧。
一想到戰爭的可能性，我心裏就充滿了恐懼。
Yī xiǎngdào zhànzhēng de kěnéng xìng, wǒ xīnli jiù chōngmǎn le kǒngjù.
When I think about the possibility of war, my heart fills with fear.
C42.3.3
55.2 Expressing nervousness or anxiety
To indicate that someone is nervous, say:
紧张/緊張 jǐnzhāng ‘to be nervous’
考试以前我很紧张。
考試以前我很緊張。
Kǎoshì yǐqián wǒ hěn jǐnzhāng.
Before I take a test, I am very nervous.
To indicate that someone is worried or anxious, say:
着急/著急 zháojí ‘to be worried or anxious’
他找不着飞机票了。非常着急。
他找不著飛機票了。非常著急。
Tā zhǎobuzháo fēijī piào le. Fēicháng zháojí.
He can’t find the airplane ticket(s). (He is) extremely anxious.
To indicate worry about someone or something, say:
担心/擔心 dānxīn ‘worry about’
我担心我的儿子。
我擔心我的兒子。
Wǒ dānxīn wǒ de érzi.
I am worried about my son.
为 something 着急
為 something 著急
wéi something zháojí
worried about something
我为后果着急。
我為後果著急。
Wǒ wéi hòuguǒ zháojí.
I am worried about the results.
