害怕 (hàipà) is a verb meaning 'to be afraid' or 'to fear'. It combines two characters: 害 (hài), which originally meant 'to harm' or 'to injure', and 怕 (pà), meaning 'to fear' or 'to dread'. Together, they form a common, everyday expression for experiencing fear — not just physical danger, but also anxiety, nervousness, or apprehension in social, academic, or unfamiliar situations. The word is neutral in register and used widely across spoken and written Chinese.

Unlike some formal or literary synonyms, 害怕 is simple and direct — suitable for children and adult learners alike. It often appears with subjects like 我 (I), 他/她 (he/she), or nouns indicating people or animals, and frequently follows subject–verb–object patterns. It can stand alone or appear after modal verbs like 会 (will) or ’t (don’t), and it’s commonly modified by degree adverbs like 有点儿 (a little), 非常 (very), or 不敢 (dare not) to express intensity or hesitation.