About
The character "恐" is structured with the component "巩" positioned above "心", where "心" directly indicates the heart or mind and "巩" functions phonetically while imparting a sense of firmness or constriction, collectively conveying the idea of the heart being gripped or pressured. Etymologically, this formation aligns with the early meaning of fear or dread, and the character has consistently carried this primary sense of being afraid. Over time, "恐" has also been used to denote the act of threatening or causing fear in others, as well as expressing apprehension about potential events, thus extending its semantic range while keeping fear as its central concept.
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。