Chinese word

可怕

Pronunciation

Pinyinkě pà

Meaning

  • adjectivescary

Example

这部电影很可怕。zhè bù diàn yǐng hěn kě pà

This movie is very scary.

Illustration for 可怕 (scary)

More examples

我听到那个故事觉得很可怕。wǒ tīng dào nà ge gù shì jué de hěn kě pà

I felt very scared when I heard that story.

Core concept

A person, thing, or situation that feels threatening enough to make people want to shrink back.

Common phrases

  • 有点可怕yóu diǎn kě pà

    a little scary

  • 觉得很可怕jué de hěn kě pà

    feel very scared

  • 可怕的故事kě pà de gù shì

    scary story

Similar words

害怕hài pà: Being in a worried state because of danger or a possible event.
吓人xià rén: Causing sudden fear through a frightening sound, event, or sight.

Definition in Chinese

令人感到恐惧或害怕的；会引起强烈不安或惊恐的。lìng rén gǎn dào kǒng jù huò hài pà de huì yín qǐ qiáng liè bù ān huò jīng kǒng de

Word origin

可 (kě, "can") combines with 怕 (pà, "fear") to describe a person, thing, or situation that can make people feel fear.

Usage tips

  • The adjective normally describes the cause of the feeling, so it can modify a movie, sound, weather event, or news report rather than the person who feels afraid.

Other meanings

  • terribleadjective

Word lists with this word