What does 可怕 mean in Chinese?

可怕 (kě pà) means "awful; dreadful; fearful; formidable; frightful; scary; hideous; horrible; terrible; terribly" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 5.

How do you pronounce 可怕?

可怕 is pronounced "kě pà" in Mandarin Chinese. It is made up of 2 syllables.

What HSK level is 可怕?

可怕 is an HSK 5 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 5 on both the old and the new exam.

What characters make up 可怕?

可怕 is made up of the characters 可, 怕. Each character has its own meaning and can appear in other words.

How do you write 可怕?

You can practice writing 可怕 using our stroke order tool.

可怕 (kě pà), awful

可怕

kě pà

awful; dreadful; fearful; formidable

HSK 5

Characters in This Word

可怕

Definitions

awful
dreadful
fearful
formidable
frightful
scary
hideous
horrible
terrible
terribly

Example Sentences

地震发生时的场面非常可怕，让人终生难忘。

Dìzhèn fāshēng shí de chǎngmiàn fēicháng kěpà, ràng rén zhōngshēng nánwàng

The scene when the earthquake occurred was terrifying and unforgettable for a lifetime

Related Words

糟透(zāo tòu)· in a bad state

→

利害(lì hài)· pros and cons

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 5
HSK 2.0: HSK 5
HSK Lord study list: HSK 2 list

可怕: HSK 5 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 5 exam

Studying for HSK 5? Keep 可怕 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each word comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 5 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.