可怕
HSK 2 (2021)Old HSK 5
可怕 (kěpà) · scary
可怕 (kěpà) means “scary; terrible”. It is written with 2 characters: 可 (but) + 怕 (to be afraid of). It is an HSK 2 word in the 2021 standard.
How 可怕 is built
The characters
可 kě · but
What 可 is made of
- 丁dīng — male adult
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 冂 — frame
Origin hint: 丁 gives the meaning, 口 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
怕 pà · to be afraid of
What 怕 is made of
- 忄xīn — heart
- 八bā — eight
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 白bái — white
- 日rì — sun; day
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 日rì — sun; day
Origin hint: 忄 gives the meaning, 白 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
这个电影很可怕。Zhège diànyǐng hěn kěpà.This movie is really scary.
你觉得狗可怕吗？Nǐ juéde gǒu kěpà ma?Do you think dogs are scary?
Questions about 可怕
What does 可怕 mean?
可怕 (kěpà) means “scary; terrible”.
How do you pronounce 可怕?
可怕 is pronounced kěpà.
Which HSK level is 可怕?
可怕 is in HSK 2 (2021) and Old HSK 5.
Related words
- 可爱kě'àicute
- 可能kěnéngmaybe
- 可是kěshìbut
- 可以kěyǐcan
- 可靠kěkàoreliable
- 可乐kělècola
- 认可rènkěto approve
- 可见kějiànit is clear that
- 可怜kěliánpitiful
- 可惜kěxīit's a pity
Learn 可怕 with its group
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 8: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.