恐怕 kǒng pà v., adv. fear / to dread / I'm afraid that... / perhaps / maybe syn 只怕 zhǐ pà I'm afraid that... / perhaps / maybe / very likely syn 畏罪 wèi zuì to dread punishment / afraid of being arrested for a crime syn 怕事 pà shì timid / to be afraid of getting involved / to be afraid of getting into trouble 生怕 shēng pà v. to fear / afraid / extremely nervous / for fear that / to avoid / so as not to syn 畏首畏尾 wèi shǒu wèi wěi afraid of the head, terrified of the tail (idiom) / ever fearful and nervous / afraid of the slightest thing syn 贪生怕死 貪生怕死 tān shēng pà sǐ greedy for life, afraid of death (idiom) / craven and cowardly / clinging abjectly to life / only interested in saving one's neck syn 忌惮 忌憚 jì dàn to be afraid of the consequences / restraining fear syn 怕生 pà shēng fear of strangers / to be afraid of strangers (of small children) syn 恐 kǒng afraid / frightened / to fear syn 怖 bù terror / terrified / afraid / frightened syn 慑 懾 shè afraid / be feared / to fear / to frighten / to intimidate syn 凛 凜 lǐn cold / to shiver with cold / to tremble with fear / afraid / apprehensive / strict / stern / severe / austere / awe-inspiring / imposing / majestic syn 视死如归 視死如歸 shì sǐ rú guī to view death as a return home / to not be afraid of dying / to face death with equanimity (idiom) syn 不避斧钺 不避斧鉞 bù bì fǔ yuè not trying to avoid the battle-ax (idiom) / not afraid of dying in combat / not afraid of being executed 视为畏途 視為畏途 shì wéi wèi tú to view as dangerous (idiom) / afraid to do sth syn 鬼怕恶人 鬼怕惡人 guǐ pà è rén lit. ghosts are afraid of evil too / an evil person fears someone even more evil (idiom) 惕然 tì rán to be afraid, fearful of 危惧 危懼 wēi jù afraid / apprehensive 好怕的 hǎo pà de worthy of being afraid of 怕死鬼 pà sǐ guǐ afraid to die (contemptuous term) 争臣 爭臣 zhēng chén minister not afraid to give forthright criticism 脚正不怕鞋歪 腳正不怕鞋歪 jiǎo zhèng bù pà xié wāi lit. a straight foot has no fear of a crooked shoe / an upright man is not afraid of gossip (idiom) 寒蝉效应 寒蟬效應 hán chán xiào yìng the chilling effect of a climate of fear in which people are afraid to speak their mind 憷头 憷頭 chù tóu to be afraid to stick out syn 嘴软 嘴軟 zuǐ ruǎn soft-spoken / afraid to speak out 悑 bù terror / terrified / afraid / frightened / old variant of 怖[bu4] 澟 lǐn cold / to shiver with cold / to tremble with fear / afraid / apprehensive / strict / stern / severe / austere / awe-inspiring / imposing / majestic / old variant of 凜|凛[lin3] 谁怕谁 誰怕誰 shéi pà shéi bring it on! / who's afraid? 光脚的不怕穿鞋的 光腳的不怕穿鞋的 guāng jiǎo de bù pà chuān xié de lit. the barefooted people are not afraid of those who wear shoes (idiom) / fig. the poor, who have nothing to lose, do not fear those in power 拉下脸 拉下臉 lā xià liǎn to look displeased / to not be afraid of hurting sb's feelings / to put aside one's pride 恐高 kǒng gāo to be afraid of heights 补阙灯檠 補闕燈檠 bǔ quē dēng qíng (idiom) Originally, this describes a man so afraid of his wife that he obeys her completely. It is ironic and derogatory. 重足而立，侧目而视 chóng zú ér lì cè mù ér shì (idiom) Describes an attitude of fear mixed with resentment: people stand with their feet together and look sideways, afraid to act openly. 浑身是胆 hún shēn shì dǎn (idiom) It describes someone exceptionally brave who is not afraid of any danger. 季常之癖 jì cháng zhī pǐ (idiom) This expression refers to being afraid of one’s wife. It describes a man who is dominated by his spouse. 冷面寒铁 lěng miàn hán tiě (idiom) Metaphorically refers to an upright and impartial official who is not afraid of the powerful. 前怕狼，后怕虎 qián pà láng hòu pà hǔ (idiom) Describes someone timid who is afraid to act and is burdened by too many concerns. 钳口结舌 鉗口結舌 qián kǒu jié shé (idiom) To keep one’s mouth shut and be unable to speak for lack of arguments. It can also describe someone afraid to speak under intimidation or abusive authority. syn 胁肩累足 xié jiān lěi zú (idiom) To hunch one’s shoulders and press one’s feet together as if afraid to stand upright. It describes a fearful and submissive posture. 学如不及，犹恐失之 學如不及，猶恐失之 xué rú bù jí yóu kǒng shī zhī (idiom) To study as if trying to catch up with something, always afraid of falling behind and then of losing it once it is reached. 有口难言 有口難言 yǒu kǒu nán yán (idiom) To have words one cannot express. It describes a situation in which one is unable or afraid to speak, often because of painful secrets or grievances that are difficult to reveal. 一夜被蛇咬，十日怕麻绳 yī yè bèi shé yǎo，shí rì pà má shéng (idiom) After suffering harm in a given situation, one remains afraid of similar situations. It describes fear resulting from a bad experience. 一年被蛇咬，三年怕草绳 yī nián bèi shé yǎo，sān nián pà jǐng shéng (idiom) After suffering in a particular situation, one becomes afraid whenever a similar situation arises. It conveys lingering apprehension. 一朝被蛇咬，三年怕井绳 yī zhāo bèi shé yǎo，sān nián pà jǐng shéng (idiom) After suffering harm in a particular situation, one becomes afraid whenever faced with a similar situation. 丑媳妇少不得见公婆 chǒu xí fù shǎo bù dé jiàn gōng pó (idiom) To be forced to face other people despite being afraid or embarrassed to do so. 争前恐后 zhēng qián kǒng hòu (idiom) The commander ordered his troops straight forward / the crowd surged ahead, each person afraid of being left behind, and rushed forward without keeping formation. 季常之惧 季常之懼 jì cháng zhī jù (idiom) Refers to being afraid of one’s wife or dominated by her in the marriage. 学如不及 學如不及 xué rú bù jí (idiom) To study as if pursuing something, always afraid of falling behind. 将恐将惧 將恐將懼 jiāng kǒng jiāng jù (idiom) To be both apprehensive and afraid. 局高蹐厚 jú gāo guǎ hòu (idiom) Originally, to remain hunched and afraid to stretch out. It later came to mean extreme caution and deep apprehension. 心乔意怯 心喬意怯 xīn qiáo yì qiè (idiom) To feel unsettled and afraid. To be anxious and at a loss. 心虚胆怯 心虛膽怯 xīn xū dǎn qiè (idiom) Describes someone who knows they are in the wrong, loses confidence, and becomes timid or afraid. 惊弦之鸟 jīng xián zhī niǎo (idiom) Describes someone who has already been frightened and becomes extremely afraid at the slightest sound or disturbance. 担惊忍怕 擔驚忍怕 dān jīng rěn pà (idiom) To be worried and afraid, remaining constantly in a state of alarm and fear. 捉鬼卖钱 捉鬼賣錢 zhuō guǐ mài qián (idiom) To capture a ghost and sell it. Describes someone who is not afraid of ghosts. 有口难开 有口難開 yǒu kǒu nán kāi (idiom) To have something to say but be unable or afraid to speak. 有口难张 有口難張 yǒu kǒu nán zhāng (idiom) To have something to say but be unable or afraid to say it. It describes someone who is unable to voice a difficulty or an unspoken secret. 武人不惜死 wǔ rén bù xī sǐ (idiom) Refers to a military commander or soldier who is not afraid of death. 河东狮子 河東獅子 hé dōng shī zi (idiom) Formerly referred to a jealous and domineering woman. By extension, it is used mockingly for a man who is afraid of his wife. 河东狮子吼 河東獅子吼 hé dōng shī zi hǒu (idiom) Refers to a jealous, domineering wife who loses her temper, and by extension mocks a man who is afraid of his wife. 炙手而热 炙手而熱 zhì shǒu ér rè (idiom) A person’s power and influence are so great that their intimidating force makes others afraid to approach them. 画地为牢，议不入 huà dì wéi láo，yì bù rù (idiom) Describes a cruel and brutal jailer who can turn a circle drawn on the ground into a prison, with people too afraid even to argue or enter it. 真金烈火 zhēn jīn liè huǒ (idiom) True gold is not afraid of being tested in a blazing fire. 箝口侧目 箝口側目 qián kǒu cè mù (idiom) To keep one’s mouth shut while glaring angrily. It describes being indignant but afraid to speak out. 羞口羞脚 羞口羞腳 xiū kǒu xiū jiǎo (idiom) To feel shy and be afraid to speak or act, with an awkward and affected manner. The expression describes coy, self-conscious timidity. 视死犹归 shì sǐ yóu guī (idiom) To regard death as something as ordinary as returning home. It describes someone who is not afraid to sacrifice their life. 视死若生 shì sǐ ruò shēng (idiom) To regard death as life. It describes someone who is not afraid of dying. 过则勿惮改 過則勿憚改 guò zé wù dàn gǎi (idiom) When one has made a mistake, one should not be afraid to correct it. 难者不会，会者不难 難者不會，會者不難 nán zhě bù huì，huì zhě bù nán (idiom) Those who are afraid of difficulty cannot learn, whereas those who know how to do something do not find it difficult. 