be afraid 是英语中表达“害怕”或“担心”的核心短语，音标为英 [bi əˈfreɪd]、美 [bi əˈfreɪd] 。它既可以独立使用表示情绪状态，也能通过搭配介词或不定式构成不同含义的表达，适用于日常口语和书面语。

核心含义与用法

基本义：害怕、担心
单独使用时表示主语处于恐惧或担忧的状态，可接从句说明害怕的内容。例如：

I'm afraid (that) you'll get caught in the rain.（我担心你会淋雨。）

Don't be afraid; just be quiet!（别害怕，保持安静就好！）

后接介词/不定式的搭配差异

be afraid of (doing) sth：强调对事物本身或行为后果的恐惧。

接名词/代词：She is afraid of dogs.（她怕狗。）

接动名词：I'm afraid of losing my passport.（我怕丢护照。）

be afraid to do sth：侧重因恐惧而不敢采取行动，动作本身并非负面。

He was afraid to jump into the river.（他不敢跳进河里。）

Don't be afraid to ask the teacher for help.（别不敢向老师求助。）

be afraid for sb/sth：表示“为…担心”，强调对他人或事物安危的忧虑。

She is afraid for her son's safety.（她担心儿子的安全。）

 

常用短语搭配

 

短语	含义	例句
be afraid of	害怕（人/事物/后果）	They may be afraid of losing you.（他们怕失去你。）
be afraid to do	不敢做某事	Don't be afraid to pursue the matter.（别不敢追问此事。）
be afraid for	为…担心	Parents are often afraid for their children's future.（父母常担心孩子的未来。）
I'm afraid (that)	委婉表达遗憾/歉意	I'm afraid not.（恐怕不行。）

 

实用例句

There's nothing to be afraid of.（没什么可怕的。）

If you want to improve your spoken English, don't be afraid of losing face.（想提升口语就别怕丢脸。）

The path was icy, so we were afraid of falling.（路面结冰，我们怕滑倒。）

She is afraid to tell her parents the truth.（她不敢告诉父母真相。）

Don't be afraid of making mistakes—everyone makes them.（别怕犯错，人人都会犯错。）

I'm afraid for his health after all this stress.（这么大压力，我担心他的健康。）

They were afraid to walk alone at night.（他们不敢夜里独自走路。）

He's afraid of flying, so he takes the train.（他怕坐飞机，所以坐火车。）

Don't be afraid to try something new.（别害怕尝试新事物。）

I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer.（恐怕你得再等一会儿。）

用法辨析

be afraid of doing vs. be afraid to do：前者聚焦“后果的负面性”（如 afraid of falling），后者强调“行动的犹豫”（如 afraid to jump）。

口语中表委婉拒绝：I'm afraid I can't help you.（恐怕我帮不了你。）此时不含“害怕”义，而是礼貌表达遗憾 。

从日常交流中的简单安慰（Don't be afraid）到复杂情绪的细腻表达（afraid for sb's safety），be afraid 凭借灵活搭配覆盖了恐惧、担忧、委婉拒绝等多重场景。掌握其用法，能更精准地传递内心感受——毕竟，敢于承认“害怕”本身就是一