The word "恐怕" is formed through a conceptual blend where two characters with similar meanings reinforce each other to create a new, nuanced idea. The first character, "恐", carries the primary meaning of fear or dread, often of something impending. The second, "怕", means to be afraid or to fear in a more general sense. By combining them, the term moves from a raw expression of fear to a more refined mental state, it conveys a personal, worried estimation or a hesitant judgment about a future possibility, effectively blending apprehension with thoughtful prediction.