擔心後果
把這股「怕」從面對危險，轉到面對自己行為可能惹出的壞結果——怕的不再是眼前的東西，而是接下來會出的事。
worried about consequences · adjective · A2
Worried that something bad will happen because of what you do.
擔心
核心畫面
You can picture the cold, tight feeling inside when you sense something bad coming — fear that something may hurt you. The other meanings are this same feeling pointed in different directions: worried about what your own action might cause, worried for someone you care about, and finally a , polite 'I'm afraid' that wraps bad news in that same flinch.
可以想成心裡那股又冷又緊的感覺——你察覺到有壞事要來、怕它傷到你，這就是恐懼。其他幾個意思都是同一種感覺，只是朝不同…更多收起
可以想成心裡那股又冷又緊的感覺——你察覺到有壞事要來、怕它傷到你，這就是恐懼。其他幾個意思都是同一種感覺，只是朝不同方向：擔心自己的行為會惹出壞結果、替你在乎的人擔憂，最後連客氣地說壞消息時的那句 I'm afraid，也帶著這同一個「縮一下」的心情。From the picture
替人擔憂
再把這股怕的對象從「自己」換成「你在乎的人或東西」——怕的是壞事落到他們身上。
worried for someone · adjective · A2
Worried that something bad may happen to a person or thing you care about.
擔憂
委婉報壞消息
把那個「縮一下、有點怕」的姿態借來當禮貌的緩衝：講對方不愛聽的話之前，先放一句 I'm afraid，像先輕輕皺一下眉，表示自己也不忍心。
softening bad news · adjective · A2
Used in 'I'm afraid' to politely tell someone news they may not like.
恐怕
Also in this word
feeling fear · adjective · A2
Feeling fear because you think something bad may happen or you may get hurt.
害怕
原始詞典資料3 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
afraidadj/əˈfɹeɪd/
- 1
Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.
- He is afraid of death.
- He is afraid to ask her out.
- 2
Regretful, sorry; expressing a reluctance to face an unpleasant situation.
- I am afraid I cannot help you in this matter.
- 3
Worried about, feeling concern for, fearing for (someone or something).
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。