กลัว
be afraid of
Native recording
Analyzing pitch…
Pitch graph is unavailable
- 1 be afraid of、fear
- 2 worry that、be afraid that、fear (an unwanted result)
Describes feeling fear or uneasiness toward something dangerous, unpleasant, or likely to have an unwanted result. Depending on the context, it means “be afraid,” “fear,” or “worry that something may happen.”
be afraid of、fear
Expresses being afraid of a person, animal, thing, or situation perceived as dangerous or frightening.
-
ฉันกลัวหมา chǎn klua mǎa I’m afraid of dogs. ฉันกลัวหมา details
-
เขากลัวความสูง khǎw klua khwaam sǔuŋ He is afraid of heights. เขากลัวความสูง details
Show more (1)
-
ไม่ต้องกลัว mây tɔ̂ŋ klua You don’t need to be afraid. ไม่ต้องกลัว details
worry that、be afraid that、fear (an unwanted result)
Expresses concern that something undesirable may happen or that an action may lead to a bad result.
-
กลัวว่าจะไปไม่ทัน klua wâa cà pay mây than I’m worried that I won’t make it in time. กลัวว่าจะไปไม่ทัน details
-
ฉันไม่กิน กลัวอ้วน chǎn mây kin klua ûan I’m not eating because I’m afraid I’ll gain weight. ฉันไม่กิน กลัวอ้วน details
Show more (1)
-
กลัวลืม เลยจดไว้ klua lʉʉm ləəy còt wáy I wrote it down because I was afraid I might forget. กลัวลืม เลยจดไว้ details
Learning notes
Explanation
กลัว is a very common, neutral word in everyday Thai. Grammatically, it behaves as a stative verb, so ฉันกลัวหมา literally follows the pattern “I + fear/am afraid of + dogs”; no separate adjective meaning “afraid” is needed. Common patterns include กลัว + noun for the object of fear, กลัว + verb or state for an unwanted possibility, and กลัวว่า + clause for “be afraid/worried that…” อย่ากลัว means “Don’t be afraid,” while ไม่ต้องกลัว means “There’s no need to be afraid.” Both are common ways to reassure someone.
Usage
Used when talking about fear of things such as dogs, ghosts, darkness, or heights. It is also common when anticipating unwanted outcomes such as being late, forgetting something, failing, gaining weight, or being scolded. It frequently appears in reassurance and encouragement.
Caution
Although English often uses the adjective “afraid,” กลัว functions as a verb in Thai. It also does not cover every kind of concern: กังวล is often more natural for sustained worry, while ห่วง is used when caring about someone’s safety or well-being. Use กลัว when fear or an anticipated undesirable outcome is central.
Differences from similar words
1 be afraid of synonyms
-
หวาดกลัว conveys stronger fear and is somewhat more literary. กลัว is the ordinary, broadly used word in everyday speech.
-
หวาดหวั่น is a somewhat formal word for feeling apprehensive or intimidated by possible danger. กลัว is more common and works naturally with specific objects of fear.
2 worry that synonyms
-
กังวล focuses on ongoing worry or mental uneasiness about a problem. กลัว often points to a particular unwanted outcome that someone fears may occur.
-
ห่วง means to care about someone’s safety or be concerned about how something is doing. กลัว emphasizes fear that an undesirable event may occur.
-
เกรง is more formal and can express apprehension as well as respectful reluctance or concern about imposing. กลัว is the more direct, everyday choice.