唯恐……
for fear that; anxious only that (written)
Structure
唯恐 担心发生的事 ， 采取的做法 · 做法 ， 唯恐 担心发生的事
What it means
For fear that; anxious only that. 唯 is “only” and 恐 is “fear”, so what follows is the one bad thing you dread (being robbed, getting lost, being late). Written.
How it is built
唯恐 + feared event, + precaution; or precaution, + 唯恐 + feared event: 她把护照放在最里面的口袋里，唯恐被人偷走 (She kept her passport in her innermost pocket for fear it would be stolen).
When to use it
Written; in speech say 生怕 or 就怕 (他生怕迷路). 以免 (lesson 2-6) states a purpose, so as to avoid; 唯恐 states the worry behind it. Learn whole: 避之唯恐不及 (avoid like the plague), 唯恐天下不乱.
Watch out
Only for something bad: ✗唯恐成功 ✓唯恐失败. What follows must be an unwanted outcome, never a hope.
Examples
唯恐迷路，他每走一段就在石头上做个记号。
Afraid of getting lost, he made a mark on a rock every little way.
她把护照放在最里面的口袋里，唯恐被人偷走。
She kept her passport in her innermost pocket, for fear it would be stolen.
那时候人人都躲着他，避之唯恐不及。
In those days everybody kept out of his way, as if he had the plague.
Learn this in Lesson 145 · HSK 7–9: 鳌太线 (The Aotai trail)
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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