Vijana wengi wanaojifunza Kiingereza hupata shida kutofautisha maneno "afraid" na "terrified." Ingawa yana maana inayofanana, yaani, kuogopa, kuna tofauti kubwa katika kiwango cha hofu wanayoashiria. "Afraid" inaonyesha kiwango kidogo cha hofu, huku "terrified" ikiashiria hofu kali sana, hata ya kutisha. Unaweza kuwa na hofu kidogo ya mtihani ("afraid"), lakini unaogopa sana nyoka ("terrified").

Hebu tuangalie mifano michache:

• Afraid:

  • Kiingereza: I am afraid of spiders.
  • Kiswahili: Ninaogopa buibui.
  • Kiingereza: She was afraid to speak in public.
  • Kiswahili: Aliogopa kuzungumza hadharani.

• Terrified:

  • Kiingereza: He was terrified of the storm.
  • Kiswahili: Alitishika sana na dhoruba.
  • Kiingereza: They were terrified to see the accident.
  • Kiswahili: Waliogopa sana walipoona ajali hiyo.

Kumbuka, "terrified" inaonyesha kiwango cha juu cha hofu kuliko "afraid." Tumia "afraid" unapozungumzia hofu ya kawaida na "terrified" unapozungumzia hofu kali sana, inayokufanya ujisikie usalama wako uko hatarini. Happy learning!