大概 vs 恐怕: what is the difference?
大概 is a neutral guess or estimate. 恐怕 is a guess that something bad may happen, like "I am afraid". 他大概三十岁 is a neutral guess, while 恐怕他不来了 voices worry.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大概 | dà gài | Marks a rough guess or estimate, roughly or probably. | 大概 + number / verb phrase |
| 恐怕 | kǒng pà | Expresses a worried guess that something unwelcome may happen. | 恐怕 + unwelcome clause |
大概 (dà gài)
Marks a rough guess or estimate, roughly or probably.
Structure: 大概 + number / verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 从这里到机场大概要一个小时。 | Cóng zhè lǐ dào jī chǎng dà gài yào yí gè xiǎo shí. | It takes about an hour from here to the airport. |
| 他大概不会来了，我们先吃吧。 | Tā dà gài bú huì lái le, wǒ men xiān chī ba. | He probably will not come, so let us eat first. |
| 现在大概十点了。 | Xiàn zài dà gài shí diǎn le. | It is probably about ten o'clock now. |
Not: 他大概明天一定来。 大概 expresses a guess, which clashes with 一定.
恐怕 (kǒng pà)
Expresses a worried guess that something unwelcome may happen.
Structure: 恐怕 + unwelcome clause
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 恐怕明天的比赛要取消了。 | Kǒng pà míng tiān de bǐ sài yào qǔ xiāo le. | I am afraid tomorrow's match will be called off. |
| 这件衣服太小，恐怕你穿不了。 | Zhè jiàn yī fú tài xiǎo, kǒng pà nǐ chuān bù liǎo. | This garment is too small, I am afraid you cannot wear it. |
| 现在才三点，恐怕他还没到。 | Xiàn zài cái sān diǎn, kǒng pà tā hái méi dào. | It is only three, so I am afraid he has not arrived yet. |
Not: 恐怕明天天气会很好。 恐怕 worries about a bad outcome; for a good guess use 大概.
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Modal Stance Adverbs: 大概, 恐怕, 当然, 其实 (HSK 3) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 才 vs 就 · 朝 vs 向 · 从 vs 自从 · 得很 vs 极了 · 光 vs 只 · 互相 vs 相互 · 叫 vs 让 · 每 vs 各 · 听不懂 vs 没听懂 · 需要 vs 要 · 因为 vs 为了 · 只有…才 vs 只要…就 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 大概 and 恐怕?
大概 is a neutral guess or estimate. 恐怕 is a guess that something bad may happen, like "I am afraid". 他大概三十岁 is a neutral guess, while 恐怕他不来了 voices worry.
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