词汇精选：afraid的用法和辨析

一、详细释义：

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adj.

害怕的，恐惧的

例句：

Are you afraid of snakes?

你怕蛇吗?

例句：

Children feel afraid when they are at home alone.

孩子独自自己在家，感到害怕。

担心的，忧虑的，顾忌的，犯愁的

例句：

The trade unions were afraid that the government would wield a big stick over them.

工会担心政府会对他们采取强硬手段。

例句：

I didn't mention it because I was afraid of upsetting him/afraid (that) I might upset him.

我没有提起那件事，因为我怕他心烦意乱。

二、词义辨析：

afraid,fearful,awful,dreadful,frightful,terrible,horrible,terrific,appalling

这些形容词均含“害怕的、可怕的”之意。afraid指由于胆小或怯懦而不敢说或做某事。fearful普通用词，既指外界情况变化而引起的恐惧，又指来自内心的害怕与焦虑。awful指威严得令人害怕或敬畏，有一定的感情色彩。dreadful指使人非常恐惧，毛骨悚然，也使人感到讨厌而退缩。frightful指使人陷入短暂的惊恐或产生毛骨悚然的感觉。terrible侧重指给人以长久的惊骇，极端的恐怖，令人难以忍受。horrible指因骇人听闻的丑恶而令人毛骨悚然，着重厌恶的成分多于害怕。terrific多指外表、形状或力量等的可怕。appalling指既令害怕又使人惊异、胆寒。

三、参考例句：

Are you afraid of snakes?

你怕蛇吗?

They are afraid of women.

他们害怕女性。

I'm afraid of millepore.

我害怕千孔虫。

Are you afraid of spooks?

你怕不怕鬼?

You're afraid of rejection.

你害怕被拒绝。

Sally is afraid of monsters.

莎莉害怕怪物。

I'm afraid not, sir.

恐怕不行，先生。

Nono is afraid of fire.

喏喏怕火。

I'm afraid he has gone.

恐怕他已经死了。

Most animals are afraid of fire.

大多数动物怕火。