大概 · 大约 · 恐怕
about · probably · I’m afraid (that)…
Structure
大概／大约 + 数量 · 大概 + 句子 · 恐怕 + 句子
What it means
大约 means “about” before a number. 大概 can also mean “about”, and before a statement it means “probably”. 恐怕 means “I’m afraid (that)…”: a guess about something you’d rather not happen.
How it is built
大约／大概 + number: 大约四十分钟 (about forty minutes). 大概 or 恐怕 + statement: 他大概不来了 (he’s probably not coming); 恐怕我要迟到了 (I’m afraid I’m going to be late).
When to use it
Use 大约 or 大概 for rough amounts, 大概 for a neutral guess, and 恐怕 when the guess is bad news: 路上车太多，恐怕我要迟到了. 恐怕 can also go after the subject: 我恐怕要迟到了.
Watch out
恐怕 does not mean “to be scared of”; that is 怕: ✗ 我恐怕狗。 ✓ 我怕狗。 恐怕 is followed by a guess about what may happen, not by a thing: 恐怕他不会来了。
Examples
从这儿到公司大约要四十分钟。
It takes about forty minutes from here to the office.
他大概不来了。
He’s probably not coming.
路上车太多，恐怕我要迟到了。
There’s so much traffic that I’m afraid I’m going to be late.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 5: 又迟到了 (Late again)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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