Korean grammar patterns › Level 3
-(으)ㄹ까 봐(서)
for fear that, worried that (something might happen)
Level 3 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Clause 1 is a worry about a possible situation; clause 2 is what the subject did or does because of that worry, or 걱정이다/걱정되다.
Forming it
| 늦다 | → 늦을까 봐 |
| 오다 | → 올까 봐 |
| 춥다 | → 추울까 봐 |
| 잊어버리다 | → 잊어버릴까 봐 |
Not followed by commands, suggestions or future plans: ✗ 늦을까 봐 빨리 가세요 → 늦을 수 있으니까 빨리 가세요.
Examples
약속에 늦을까 봐 택시를 탔어요.
I was afraid I'd be late, so I took a taxi.
비가 올까 봐 우산을 가져왔어요.
I was worried it might rain, so I brought an umbrella.
Compared with similar patterns
-(으)ㄹ까 싶다 can also express a worry but ends the sentence; -(으)ㄹ세라 is a literary 'lest'.