HSK 4
Correct
大概 vs 大约 vs 恐怕
/ dàgài vs dàyuē vs kǒngpà /
Strokes
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Formula
1
大约……左右
2
大约……上下
3
大约......前后
4
恐怕......吧
Definition
大概, 大约, 恐怕 are all Adverbs of Scope (范围副词), all the three words are used to make estimations or draw inferences, but they differ in some aspects.
1, 大概 can be used to make a judgment, an estimation or an inference, especially when the speaker is sure about the estimation.
2, 大约 is usually used in the structure “大约……左右, 大约……上下, 大约……前后” to make an estimation on a quantity.
3, 恐怕 and 大概 are interchangeable. However, there are still some differences:
3.1 The speaker is not sure when 恐怕 is used.
3.2 恐怕 carries a consultative tone in offering a suggestion.
3.3 恐怕 may also carry a worrying tone.
Example
大概
大概 is used to make a judgment, an estimation or an inference of something which is very likely to happen.
1
Jīnglǐ
经理
dàgài
大概
míngtiān
明天
jiùyào
就要
qù
去
běijīng
北京
kāihuì
开会
le
了
。
Our manager probably is going to Beijing to have a meeting tomorrow.
2
Zhè
这
jī
几
píng
瓶
shuǐ
水
dàgài
大概
bù
不
gòu
够
hē
喝
。
A few bottles of water are not enough to drink.
大约
大约 is sometimes used to make a judgment, an estimation or an inference of a situation.
But it is more often used to estimate a quantity by forming the following structures: 大约......上下, 大约......左右 and 大约......前后.
But it is more often used to estimate a quantity by forming the following structures: 大约......上下, 大约......左右 and 大约......前后.
大约……左右
大约……上下
大约......前后
3
Tā
他
de
的
shēngāo
身高
dàyuē
大约
yīmǐ
一米
bā
八
shàngxià
上下
。
His height is around 1.8 meters.
4
Zhè
这
běn
本
shū
书
dàyuē
大约
30
30
yuán
元
zuǒyòu
左右
。
This book is about 30 yuan.
恐怕 is used to make a judgment, an estimation or an inference. Compared with 大概, 恐怕 has the following characteristics:
1. The speaker is not sure.
2. The speaker is not sure, so he is soliciting the listener's idea.
3. The speaker is worried when he is making the estimation.
4. When the speaker states his point of view in an indirect or roundabout tone, the structure 恐怕......吧 is often used.
2. The speaker is not sure, so he is soliciting the listener's idea.
3. The speaker is worried when he is making the estimation.
4. When the speaker states his point of view in an indirect or roundabout tone, the structure 恐怕......吧 is often used.
恐怕......吧
5
Xiǎotāo
小涛
shàngbān
上班
chídào
迟到
le
了
,
kǒngpà
恐怕
shì
是
dǔchē
堵车
le
了
。
Xiaotao is late to work, I'm afraid there is a traffic jam.
6
Zhè
这
jiàn
件
shì
事
hěn
很
zhòngyào
重要
,
kǒngpà
恐怕
bìxū
必须
gàosù
告诉
jīnglǐ
经理
。
This matter is very important, I'm afraid we must tell manager.
7
Zhècì
这次
shībài
失败
le
了
,
kǒngpà
恐怕
wǒmen
我们
zài
再
yě
也
méiyǒu
没有
jīhuì
机会
le
了
。
If we failed this time, I'm afraid we won't have another chance.
8
Nǐ
你
zhèyàng
这样
xué
学
hànyǔ
汉语
,
kǒngpà
恐怕
méiyǒu
没有
shénme
什么
xiàoguǒ
效果
bā
吧
.
I'm afraid it doesn't work if you learn Chinese in this way.
Exercise
Fill in the blanks with 大概, 大约 or 恐怕:
1. 看他脸色非常不好，（ ）是生病了。
2. 现在已经8点59分了，他还没有来，（ ）不会来了。
3. 这个字（ ）写错了，但是我也不确定。
4. 你学习这样不认真，（ ）不行吧！
5. 这次来参加活动的人（ ）在200人左右。
6. 这次考试准备得非常不好，（ ）不能通过了。
7. 他们这几天都没有说过话，（ ）是吵架了吧.。
8. 这件事该怎么办呢 ？ （ ）还是得问问爸爸，你觉得怎么样？