怕
Characters in this entry
- 怕
- pà · to fear, be afraid of; apprehensive
Explore the spelling
Mandarin tones
4 · pa4
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
Sentences in context
Exact source-spelling matches. Open the reader for dictionary lookups, construction notes and related examples. Occurrence does not establish a particular dictionary sense.
Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 7 senses · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
paa3
Cantonese word readings for 怕. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character · Etymology 1
- to fear; to be afraid of; to dread
- to worry; to be concerned
- to be unable to withstand
- perhaps; supposedly; fearfully; I'm afraid that
- (Northern Wu) ugly
- a surname
character · Etymology 2
- (literary) alternative form of 泊 (“indifferent to fame or gain”)
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack