afraid

/ə'freid/

Thân thiện

The little boy is afraid of the dark.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Feeling fear or anxiety; frightened: The primary meaning describes the emotional state of being scared or apprehensive about something.
   • Feeling regret or concern, often used to politely express bad news or disagreement: A secondary, idiomatic meaning used to soften statements that may be disappointing or negative.
   • Feeling reluctance or unwillingness: Can describe an aversion to doing something due to fear of the consequences.

Usage Examples

• Feeling fear:

  • She is afraid of the dark.
  • He was afraid to look down from the high cliff.
  • They are afraid for their safety.

• Expressing polite regret or concern:

  • I'm afraid I've made a mistake.
  • I'm afraid we're out of coffee.
  • "Can you help me?" "I'm afraid not."

• Expressing unwillingness:

  • He was afraid of offending her, so he said nothing.
  • Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Advanced Usage

• "I'm afraid so/not": A common fixed phrase used as a polite, brief affirmative or negative response to an unwelcome question.

  • "Is the train delayed?" "I'm afraid so."
  • "Do you have any tickets left?" "I'm afraid not."

• "Afraid for (someone/something)": Worried that something bad may happen to a person or thing.

  • She was afraid for her son's future.

Variants and Related Words

• Fearful (adj): Feeling afraid; often more formal or literary than "afraid."
• Frightened (adj): Scared, often by something sudden.
• Scared (adj): A very common synonym for "afraid."
• Terrified (adj): Extremely afraid.

Synonyms

• Frightened: Scared.
• Apprehensive: Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.
• Terrified: Filled with overwhelming fear.
• Timid: Showing a lack of courage or confidence.

Related Phrases

• Afraid of one's own shadow: Extremely timid or easily frightened.
  • Since the accident, he's been afraid of his own shadow.

Notes on Usage

• The word "afraid" is typically used only predicatively (after a verb like "be," "feel," "seem"). It is not usually placed directly before a noun. For example, we say "The child is afraid," not "the afraid child." (Use "frightened" or "scared" before a noun: "the frightened child").
• The phrase "I'm afraid..." is a very common and useful tool for polite, indirect communication in English.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having feelings of aversion or unwillingness
   • afraid of hard work
   • afraid to show emotion
2. feeling worry or concern or insecurity
   • She was afraid that I might be embarrassed
   • terribly afraid of offending someone
   • I am afraid we have witnessed only the first phase of the conflict
3. filled with regret or concern; used often to soften an unpleasant statement
   • I'm afraid I won't be able to come
   • he was afraid he would have to let her go
   • I'm afraid you're wrong
4. filled with fear or apprehension
   • afraid even to turn his head
   • suddenly looked afraid
   • afraid for his life
   • afraid of snakes
   • afraid to ask questions

Từ đồng nghĩa

• afraid