afraid

Compared meaning: feeling fear or afraid (adjective).

比较义项：感到害怕、恐惧（形容词）。

• afraid 本词

  The most common, neutral word for feeling fear; typically followed by 'of' or a to-infinitive, used equally in speech and writing.

  最常见、最中性的表示“害怕”的词，后面常接of或不定式（to do），口语和书面语中都很常用。

  She admitted she was afraid to speak in front of the whole class.

  她承认自己害怕在全班面前讲话。

• scared

  More informal and emotionally stronger than afraid, often describing a sudden or startled fear, especially with children or physical reactions.

  比afraid更口语化，情绪更强烈，常表示突然受到惊吓的感觉，尤其用于描述孩子或身体反应（如尖叫、发抖）。

  The kids screamed, scared by the sudden loud bang.

  孩子们尖叫起来，被突然的巨响吓到了。

• fearful

  More formal and literary than afraid, often describing ongoing worry or apprehension about something that might happen, rather than sudden fright.

  比afraid更正式、书面化，常表示对未来可能发生的事情持续的担忧或不安，而不是突然的惊吓。

  Investors grew fearful that the economy might collapse soon.

  投资者开始担心经济可能很快崩溃。

Afraid, scared, and fearful all mean feeling fear, but strength differs. Afraid is the most common and neutral. Scared is more informal, often describing sudden or startled fear. Fearful is more formal, often describing ongoing worry. Afraid can also mean 'sorry', a sense not compared.

这三个词都表示“感到害怕”，但语气强弱和使用场合不同：afraid最常见、最中性；scared更口语化，强调突然或强烈的惊吓感；fearful更正式、书面化，常表示持续的担忧或不安。这里不比较afraid表示“恐怕，很遗憾”的用法（如I'm afraid I can't come）。

Compared meaning: worried about something (adjective).

比较义项：担心的（形容词）。

• concerned

  Shows worry or care about someone's wellbeing or a situation, milder than afraid; typically followed by "about" and does not necessarily imply real danger, just concern.

  表示对某人的处境或某件事感到担心和关心，语气比afraid更温和；后面常接“about”，不一定意味着真的有危险，只是表示关切。

  Her parents were concerned about her long trip alone.

  她的父母担心她独自进行长途旅行。

• afraid 本词

  Expresses real fear that something bad or dangerous will happen, stronger than concerned; commonly used with "of" a thing, "that" a clause, or "to" a verb.

  表示真正害怕某件不好或危险的事情会发生，语气比concerned更强烈；常与“of”加名词、“that”从句或“to”加动词连用。

  My little brother is afraid of the dark at night.

  我弟弟晚上害怕黑暗。

Both words mean worried. Concerned is milder, showing care about someone's situation or a problem. Afraid is stronger, showing real fear that something bad will happen. Not compared: concerned meaning 'related or involved', and afraid used to soften bad news, as in 'I'm afraid not'.

concerned和afraid在这个义项上都表示“担心的”，但语气强弱不同：concerned语气较温和，侧重对某人处境或某件事的关切；afraid语气更强，带有真正的恐惧感，担心会发生不好的事。这里不比较concerned的另一义项“相关的，涉及到的”（如the people concerned），也不比较afraid用于委婉引出坏消息的说法（如I'm afraid not）。