✨ 语义深度解析 ⋮
afraid
高考核心词 难度 2/5 ⏱ 3 分钟
核心
害怕——既是恐惧，也是担心，还能礼貌表达遗憾
释义
1
adj.害怕的，恐惧的（be afraid of）
Many children are afraid of the dark and find it difficult to sleep without a night light.
许多孩子害怕黑暗，没有夜灯就难以入睡。
2
adj.因害怕而不敢（be afraid to do）
She was afraid to voice her opinions in meetings, fearing that her views would be dismissed.
她不敢在会议上表达意见，担心自己的观点会被驳回。
3
adj.恐怕，遗憾（I'm afraid that）
I'm afraid the last available seat has already been taken by another passenger.
恐怕最后一个空位已经被另一位乘客占了。
语感
afraid of doing = 担心会发生；afraid to do = 因为怕所以不做——同一个词，两种结构，两种意思
害怕的不敢（be afraid to do）恐怕（礼貌遗憾）
陷阱
⚠️be afraid of doing vs. be afraid to do：担心 vs. 不敢
He was afraid to ask for a pay rise because he feared his manager would respond negatively.
✗
afraid to ask = afraid of asking（两者意思一样，可以互换）
✓
afraid to ask（因害怕而不敢问，强调「不采取行动」：他没有去问）；afraid of asking（担心问这件事，强调「担忧这件事本身」，不一定意味着他没有问）；此句有 because he feared his manager would respond negatively，说明他不敢去问，用 afraid to ask（行动被恐惧阻止）
他不敢要求加薪，因为他担心经理会消极回应。（afraid to ask = 因为怕而不做；afraid of asking = 担心这件事发生）
⚠️afraid 只作表语（不前置修饰名词）
✗
The researchers studied the behaviour of afraid animals in captivity to understand stress responses.
研究人员研究了圈养中受惊动物的行为，以了解应激反应。（× afraid animals → ✓ frightened animals）
afraid 是表语形容词，只能用在 be/seem/feel 后（the animal is afraid），不能前置修饰名词（× afraid animals）；前置用 frightened / scared / fearful
✓
The researchers studied the behaviour of frightened animals in captivity to understand stress responses.
研究人员研究了圈养中受惊动物的行为，以了解应激反应。
近义辨析
afraid vs frightened
afraid afraid（表语形容词，不能前置修饰名词，可用三种结构） frightened frightened（可作表语也可前置修饰名词：a frightened child = 受惊的孩子）
She was afraid that the interview panel would ask questions she wasn't prepared for.
她害怕面试小组会问她没有准备好的问题。
A frightened deer stood frozen in the headlights of the approaching vehicle.
一只受惊的鹿在驶来车辆的车灯前僵住了。
写作加分
此词暂无特别的写作加分用法
常用搭配
be afraid of sth. / doing sth.害怕某事 / 担心某事发生
be afraid to do sth.因害怕而不敢做某事
I'm afraid (that)恐怕（礼貌表达遗憾/坏消息）
afraid of failure / change / the dark害怕失败 / 改变 / 黑暗
not be afraid to speak up不怕发声，敢于表达（常见搭配）
词根
afraid of doing = 担心「会怎样」；afraid to do = 因为怕所以「不做」——介词决定方向
考考你
Q1对错判断
判断下面句子里的用法是否正确：
The report highlighted that many afraid employees did not report workplace misconduct for fear of losing their jobs.
✓ 正确版本
The report highlighted that many frightened employees did not report workplace misconduct for fear of losing their jobs.
报告强调，许多害怕的员工因担心失业而没有举报工作场所不当行为。
afraid 只作表语（is afraid），不能前置修饰名词（× afraid employees）；前置用 frightened / scared
Q2搭配还原
根据语境选择正确结构：
Many students are afraid ___ making mistakes in public, which prevents them from practising their speaking skills.
许多学生担心在公众场合犯错，这使他们无法练习口语技能。
Aof
Bto
Cfor
Dabout
完整搭配：afraid of making mistakes　担心犯错（担忧某事发生）
此句强调「担心犯错这件事会发生」，用 afraid of doing；afraid to do（介词 to）表示「因害怕而不去做」，语义不同；此处不是说他们「不敢」练习，而是「担心」犯错
Q3近义选词
选择最恰当的词填空：
A ___ child clung to her mother's hand as the crowd around them grew louder and more chaotic.
Aafraid
Bfrightened
✓ 一个受惊的孩子紧紧抓住母亲的手，周围的人群越来越嘈杂混乱。
此处需要前置修饰名词 child，afraid 不能前置，只能用 frightened（可前置修饰名词）
接着学
点击进入该词的深度解析
fear同语义场恐惧（名词/动词），fear of failure = 对失败的恐惧；fear 是名词/动词，afraid 是形容词
fearful近义恐惧的（可前置修饰名词：a fearful glance = 恐惧的一瞥，比 afraid 更书面）
anxious近义焦虑的（be anxious about = 对…感到焦虑，比 afraid 更侧重担忧而非恐惧）
brave反义勇敢的（与 afraid 相对，be brave enough to do = 勇敢地去做）