生怕…
for fear that; terrified that
Structure
做法 ， 生怕 担心发生的事 ／ 主语 生怕 担心发生的事 ， 做法
What it means
For fear that, terrified that: a stronger, more vivid 怕 or 担心, usually giving the reason for a precaution or a hurry.
How it is built
Action + comma + 生怕 + feared event, or subject + 生怕 + feared event + action: 她生怕迟到，提前一个小时就出了门 (afraid of being late, she left an hour early).
When to use it
Spoken and narrative; 唯恐 is its bookish twin. 以免 (lesson 5-11) states the aim coolly; 生怕 shows the worry.
Watch out
It takes a clause, not a bare noun: ✗ 生怕狗 ✓ 怕狗. It is not negated (✗ 不生怕).
Examples
她一天查好几遍邮箱，生怕错过面试通知。
She checks her email several times a day, terrified of missing an invitation to interview.
奶奶把钱缝在衣服里面，生怕在火车上被人偷了。
Grandma sewed her money into the lining of her clothes for fear it would be stolen on the train.
第一天上班，他说话特别小心，生怕得罪了上司。
On his first day at work he chose his words very carefully, afraid of offending his boss.
Learn this in Lesson 180 · HSK 7–9: 毕业生的两条路 (Graduates at the crossroads)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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