-을까 보다

V + ㄹ/을까 보다 1. This indicates that the speaker plans to do something, but is not completely sure. It’s used only with a first-person subject. (I might~, I’m thinking about doing~).

다이어트를 할까 봐요.

I might go on a diet.

학교에 늦어서 택시를 탈까 봐요.

I'm late for school, so I might take a taxi.

이제 일하는 게 힘들어서 내년에 은퇴할까 봐요.

Since work has become difficult, I'm considering retiring next year.

• ‘보다’ can be replaced with ‘싶다’ or ‘하다’.

내년에 은퇴할까 봐요.

= 내년에 은퇴할까 싶어요.

= 내년에 은퇴할까 해요.

(~을까 보다 does not combine with the past tense. Therefore, ~을까 봤어요 is incorrect. However, forms like 할까 했어요 and 할까 싶었어요 are possible.)

• It is similar to ‘–으려고 하다’, but while ‘–으려고 하다’ shows stronger intention, and implies the action is likely to happen soon, ‘–을까 보다’ expresses weaker certainty and only a tentative willingness.

은퇴할까 봐요. I'm thinking about retiring.

은퇴하려고 해요. I'm about to retire./I’m planning to retire.

은퇴하기로 했어요. I’ve decided to retire.

은퇴할 거예요. I’m going to retire.

V/Adj/이다,아니다 + ㄹ/을까 봐 ~ 2. This indicates concern or worry about a possible future situation. (I’m afraid~) It works like a connective ending, used in the pattern “A 을까 봐 B”, where A shows the concern or fear and leads to the resulting action in B.

살 찔까 봐 채소만 먹고 있어요.

I'm only eating vegetables because I'm afraid I'll gain weight.

졸업하고 일을 못 구할까 봐 걱정 돼요.

I'm worried that I won't be able to find a job after graduation.

네가 화낼까 봐 말을 못하겠어.

I'm afraid you'll get angry, so I can't speak.