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be afraid of的of接近because of, 即of后面是be afraid的原因。此原因对主语对象的不利，如
【例句1】I've always been afraid of the dark. （我一直害怕黑暗。）[剑桥高级学者辞典；the dark导致主语对象心理恐惧]
【例句2】Many children are afraid of the dark. （许多孩子怕黑。） [朗文当代英语词典]
【例句3】They know I'm afraid of heights. （他们知道我恐高。） [牛津高级学者辞典；高度给主语they带来的心理恐惧]
【例句4】Are you afraid of spiders?（你害怕蜘蛛吗？）[牛津高级学者辞典]
【例句5】He had always been afraid of dogs. （他一直害怕狗。） [牛津高级学者辞典; 狗可能给主语对象带来伤害]
【例句6】Several of the women who complained say they are afraid of retaliation. （几名投诉的女性表示，她们害怕遭到报复。）[剑桥高级学者辞典]
【例句7】The government was afraid of the reaction from the public. （政府害怕公众的反应。）[朗文当代英语词典]
也可以be afraid of someone, 表达someone的行动导致主语对象害怕（不利于主语对象），如
【例句8】He told a crowd of supporters: "I'm not afraid of anyone." （他对一群支持者说：“我不怕任何人。”） [剑桥高级学者辞典]
【例句9】I was afraid of the other boys. （我害怕其他男孩。）[柯林斯高级学者辞典]
【例句10】I was a little afraid of him when I first met him. （我第一次见到他时有点害怕他。）[朗文当代英语词典]
be afraid for someone表达主语对象为someone的利益受损或健康而担心，如
【例句11】Her father looked ill and she was suddenly afraid for him. （她父亲看起来病了，她突然为他担心起来。） [朗文当代英语词典]
【例句12】I'm not afraid for me, but for the baby. （我不为自己害怕，而是为孩子害怕。）[牛津高级学者辞典]
【例句13】She was afraid for her children (= feared that they might be hurt). （她为孩子们担心。）[剑桥高级学者辞典]
【例句14】"I'm afraid for my family," said the mother of five. （这位五个孩子的母亲说：“我为我的家人担心。”。）[剑桥高级学者辞典]
也就是对be afraid of someone，若afraid被解除后，获益的是主语对象；而对be afraid for someone, afraid被解除后，直接获益的是someone, 而主语对象则是间接获得心理安宁。
be afraid for something也可以，如
【例句14】They were afraid for their own safety. (他们为自己的安全而担心。)[柯林斯高级学者辞典]
【例句15】I am very afraid for their safety. （我非常担心他们的安全。） [牛津高级学者辞典]
【例句16】So far, he has seen no reason to be afraid for his safety (= be worried that he was not safe). (到目前为止，他没有理由担心自己的安全。)[剑桥高级学者辞典]
【例句17】Many of us were afraid for our jobs. (我们中的许多人都担心自己的工作。)[朗文当代英语词典]
【例句18】They had already fired three people and he was afraid for his job. (他们已经解雇了三个人，他担心自己的工作。) [牛津高级学者辞典]
【例句19】I was afraid for my life. (我担心我的生命。) [牛津高级学者辞典]
对be afraid for something，something也是主语对象担心的原因，不过表达重心是“担心something有异常（心理定位是为something正常而心焦）”。心态是积极的，想有作为的。
对be afraid of something，偏重something是主语对象担心的原因的陈述，对something也不谈是否正常。心态是被动的。
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