Character Familiesleft / right

怕pà

to fear; to be afraid (害怕,可怕); perhaps; I'm afraid — expressing a guess or worry (恐怕,怕是)

怕 is fear: 害怕 'be scared', 可怕 'scary'.

GF0025–2021 character list · 二级
One character pageAll readings and linked senses stay together.

left / right

ZDIC: 形声,从忄、白声.

left / right · 怕

WHOLE CHARACTER

怕pà

to fear; to be afraid (害怕,可怕); perhaps; I'm afraid — expressing a guess or worry (恐怕,怕是)

怕 is fear: 害怕 'be scared', 可怕 'scary'.

ZDIC: 形声,从忄、白声.

MEANING: THE HEART SIDE — FEAR IS FELT IN THE HEART (ZDIC 从忄)

忄xīn

heart; mind (from 心)

The left-side heart form; not a standalone page.

In 怕: meaning: the heart side — fear is felt in the heart (ZDIC 从忄) The vertical-heart radical.

OLD SOUND SIDE: 白 (BÁI)

白bái

white; clear

A visible part in 百. Its modern white meaning does not by itself explain hundred.

In 怕: old sound side: 白 (bái) pà shares the labial opening; the finals and tones differ — a historical sound side, at best a weak modern hint.

pàTone 4
  • to fear; to be afraid (害怕,可怕)
  • perhaps; I'm afraid — expressing a guess or worry (恐怕,怕是)
  • 害怕hàipàto be afraid
  • 可怕kěpàfrightening; terrible

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