Menu
大概，大约 and 恐怕 are all adverbs, which are used to make a judgment, an estimation or draw inferences.
大概 is more often used to make a judgment, an estimation or an inference of some situations which are very likely to happen.
e.g.
我昨天看到他很晚才睡，明天他大概要迟到了。(Wǒ zuótiān kàn dào tā hěn wǎn cái shuì, míngtiān tā dàgài yào chídàole.) I saw him go to bed very late yesterday, and he will probably be late tomorrow.
今天要请朋友吃火锅，这一百块钱大概不够。(Jīntiān yào qǐng péngyǒu chī huǒguō, zhè yībǎi kuài qián dàgài búgòu.) Today, I want to invite my friend to eat hot pot. This one hundred yuan is probably not enough.
大概大家还不知道明天放假。(Dàgài dàjiā hái bù zhīdào míngtiān fàngjià.) You probably don’t know that tomorrow will be a holiday.
Besides adverb, 大概 can also be a noun or adjective.
e.g.
As noun
昨天你去开会了吗？给我讲个大概吧。(Zuótiān nǐ qù kāihuìle ma? Gěi wǒ jiǎng gè dàgài ba.) Did you go to the meeting yesterday? Give me a rough idea.
这张图你画个大概就可以了。(Zhè zhāng tú nǐ huà gè dàgài jiù kěyǐle.) You can draw this picture roughly.
As adjective
他旅游花了多少钱？你知道大概的数字吗？(Tā lǚyóu huāle duōshǎo qián? Nǐ zhīdào dàgài de shùzì ma?) How much did he spend on travelling? Do you know the approximate numbers?
这部电影大概的内容是什么？(Zhè bù diànyǐng dàgài de nèiróng shì shénme?) What is the general content of this movie?
大约 is more often used to estimate a quantity or time. The following patterns are often applied.
大约……上下
大约……左右
大约……前后 （this pattern is often used to estimate time.）
e.g.
他年纪不大，大约二十岁上下。(Tā niánjì bù dà, dàyuē èrshí suì shàngxià.) He is young, about twenty years old.
这本书大约四十块左右。(Zhè běn shū dàyuē sìshí kuài zuǒyòu.) This book is about forty yuan.
我们大约是在2000年前后认识的。(Wǒmen dàyuē shì zài 2000 nián qiánhòu rènshi de.) We met around 2000.
恐怕is used to make a judgment, an estimation or an inference of a situation.
e.g.
现在他还没到，恐怕今天不会来了。(Xiànzài tā hái méi dào, kǒngpà jīntiān búhuì lái le.) He hasn’t arrived yet, I’m afraid he won’t be here today.
我的书不见了，恐怕是被妈妈拿走了。(Wǒ de shū bújiàn le, kǒngpà shì bèi māma ná zǒu le.) My book is gone, I’m afraid it was taken by my mother.
今天堵车，我恐怕要迟到了。(Jīntiān dǔchē, wǒ kǒngpà yào chídàole.) I’m afraid I will be late in the traffic jam today.
e.g.
这件事太重要了，恐怕还是要问问父母。(Zhè jiàn shì tài zhòngyàole, kǒngpà háishì yào wèn wèn fùmǔ.) This matter is too critical, I am afraid I still have to ask parents.
要想知道会议内容，恐怕还得问问经理。(Yào xiǎng zhīdào huìyì nèiróng, kǒngpà hái děi wèn wèn jīnglǐ.) If you want to know the content of the meeting, I’m afraid you have to ask the manager.
想做这件事，恐怕还得请大家帮忙。(Xiǎng zuò zhè jiàn shì, kǒngpà hái děi qǐng dàjiā bāngmáng.) If you want to do this, I’m afraid you have to ask everyone for help.
e.g.
你穿得太少了，恐怕会感冒。(Nǐ chuān de tài shǎo le, kǒngpà huì gǎnmào.)
突然下雨了，恐怕他又没带雨伞，怎么办？(Tūrán xià yǔle, kǒngpà tā yòu méi dài yǔsǎn, zěnme bàn?)
你每天吃那么少，恐怕对身体不好吧。(Nǐ měitiān chī nàme shǎo, kǒngpà duì shēntǐ bù hǎo ba.)
Note that when expressing one’s view in an indirect or roundabout tone, “恐怕……吧” is often used.
e.g.
你的钱恐怕不够用吧。(Nǐ de qián kǒngpà búgòu yòng ba.) I’m afraid your money is not enough.
不学汉字，恐怕汉语会学不好吧。(Bù xué hànzì, kǒngpà hànyǔ huì xué bù hǎo ba.) If you don’t learn Chinese characters, I am afraid that you will not be able to learn Chinese well.
你的这个想法恐怕不太对吧。(Nǐ de zhège xiǎngfǎ kǒngpà bú tài duì ba.) I’m afraid your idea is not quite right.
Note: 恐怕 can’t be used in interrogative sentences. Generally, 大概 can be used in this case. When ask about quantity or time, 大约 can also be applied.
e.g.
✘ 你恐怕几点回家？
你大概几点回家？(Nǐ dàgài jǐ diǎn huí jiā?) What time are you probabaly going home?
✘ 你恐怕有多少个朋友？
你大约有多少个朋友？(Nǐ dàyuē yǒu duōshǎo gè péngyǒu?) How many friends do you probably have?
With a premium membership, you can access all 33 questions about “大概(dàgài) vs 大约(dàyuē) vs 恐怕(kǒngpà)“, as well as online exercises for all grammar points.
