Modal Stance Adverbs: 大概, 恐怕, 当然, 其实
Modal stance adverbs show how sure the speaker is, or how the speaker sees the facts. At HSK 3 they are 大概 (roughly, probably), 恐怕 (I am afraid that), 当然 (of course) and 其实 (actually), and they come before the verb.
恐怕 (kǒngpà) "I'm afraid (that)..." — an estimate specifically about something undesirable or worrying. 天这么黑，恐怕要下雨了。(The sky's so dark, I'm afraid it's going to rain.)
当然 (dāngrán) "of course" — stresses that something is obviously, certainly true. 他当然会来，他是主角。(Of course he'll come — he's the lead.)
其实 (qíshí) "actually, in fact" — corrects or adds a surprising nuance to what was just said or assumed. 别人都以为他很严肃，其实他非常幽默。(Everyone thinks he's serious, but actually he's very funny.)
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他大概三十岁。 | Tā dàgài sānshí suì. | He's probably around thirty. | 大概 + number: a plain, neutral estimate. |
| 天这么黑，恐怕要下雨了。 | Tiān zhème hēi, kǒngpà yào xià yǔ le. | The sky's so dark, I'm afraid it's going to rain. | 恐怕 marks a worried prediction, reinforced by 要...了. |
| 别人都以为他很严肃，其实他非常幽默。 | Biérén dōu yǐwéi tā hěn yánsù, qíshí tā fēicháng yōumò. | Everyone thinks he's serious, but actually he's very funny. | 其实 overturns the assumption stated in the first clause. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
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.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, adverbs (情态副词).
大概 is also explained in: 也许/恐怕/大概: hedging expressions (HSK 4).
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.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (情态副词).
恐怕 is also explained in: 也许/恐怕/大概: hedging expressions (HSK 4).
当然 (dāng rán)
Means of course, showing something is obvious or certain.
Structure: 当然 + clause, or 当然 + 可以 / 要
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你想借我的自行车吗？当然可以。 | Nǐ xiǎng jiè wǒ de zì xíng chē ma? Dāng rán kě yǐ. | Do you want to borrow my bike? Of course you can. |
| 他是你的老师，你当然要听他的话。 | Tā shì nǐ de lǎo shī, nǐ dāng rán yào tīng tā de huà. | He is your teacher, so of course you should listen to him. |
| 她学了十年汉语，当然说得很好。 | Tā xué le shí nián hàn yǔ, dāng rán shuō de hěn hǎo. | She has studied Chinese for ten years, so of course she speaks well. |
Not: 我当然可能去。 当然 means certain, so it cannot combine with 可能.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, adverbs (语气副词).
其实 (qí shí)
Introduces the real situation, which differs from what was said or what it looks like.
Structure: Appearance, then 其实 + the truth
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他看起来很凶，其实人很好。 | Tā kàn qǐ lái hěn xiōng, qí shí rén hěn hǎo. | He looks fierce but is actually a nice person. |
| 其实这道题不难，只是你没看清楚。 | Qí shí zhè dào tí bù nán, zhǐ shì nǐ méi kàn qīng chǔ. | Actually this question is not hard, you just did not read it carefully. |
| 大家都说那家店贵，其实价格很合理。 | Dà jiā dōu shuō nà jiā diàn guì, qí shí jià gé hěn hé lǐ. | Everyone says that shop is expensive, but the prices are actually reasonable. |
Not: 他说他不累，其实他也不累。 其实 brings in a truth that differs from what was said; here both sides agree.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, adverbs (语气副词).
Compared side by side: 大概 vs 恐怕.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Modal Stance Adverbs among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Modal Stance Adverbs
What does 情态语气副词 (Modal Stance Adverbs) mean in Chinese?
Modal stance adverbs show how sure the speaker is, or how the speaker sees the facts. At HSK 3 they are 大概 (roughly, probably), 恐怕 (I am afraid that), 当然 (of course) and 其实 (actually), and they come before the verb. It is an HSK 3 grammar point.
How do you use 情态语气副词 (Modal Stance Adverbs) in a sentence?
他大概三十岁。 — Tā dàgài sānshí suì. — He's probably around thirty. 大概 + number: a plain, neutral estimate.
What do you need to know before 情态语气副词 (Modal Stance Adverbs)?
Modal Verbs (HSK 2). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 情态语气副词 (Modal Stance Adverbs) lead to?
Attitude adverbs (HSK 4), 也许/恐怕/大概 (HSK 4). Each of them names 情态语气副词 (Modal Stance Adverbs) among its own prerequisites.
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.
Does 其实 always mean "actually"?
Mostly yes, and it signals that what follows is the truth in contrast to the surface. 他不太爱说话，其实很热情 means he seems quiet but is actually warm.
Modal Stance Adverbs is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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