About
恐 is a phono-semantic compound with the semantic radical 心 (heart) at the bottom, indicating it relates to emotions, and the phonetic component 巩 (to secure) at the top. The phonetic component, historically written with 凡 and 工, provides the pronunciation. The character’s core meaning is fear, functioning as both a noun for terror and a verb for feeling dread or anticipating something negative.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我恐怕不能来。
这部电影很恐怖。
这个孩子感到恐惧。
他恐怕已经回家了。
由于恐高，他不敢坐飞机。
恐龙在数百万年前灭绝了。
恐怖分子的威胁引起了全球恐慌。
政府采取行动以防止恐慌情绪蔓延。