惊 (jīng) - To startle & to be frightened or alarmed

惊Tone 1

jīng ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

傑君

惊 · jīng

To startle;

to be frightened or alarmed;

to surprise;

to shock.

To startleto be frightened or alarmedto surprise

Usage highlights

To be surprisedTo be shockedTo be frightenedTo startleTo be alarmedAmazing

Synonyms

  • 吓— to frighten, to scare
  • 惧— to fear, to be afraid
  • 愕— to be stunned, astounded

Antonyms

  • 静— calm, quiet (state opposite to alarm)
  • 安— peaceful, calm

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The loud noise startled me (惊到我了).
  • He was shocked by the news (被消息惊住了).
  • Don't be alarmed, it's just a test (别惊慌，只是个测试).
  • The sudden change surprised everyone (突然的变化让所有人吃惊).

Collocations

  • To be surprised(吃惊)
  • To be shocked(震惊)
  • To be frightened(惊恐)
  • To startle(惊动)
  • To be alarmed(惊慌)
  • Amazing(惊人)

Idioms

  • To astonish the world(惊世骇俗)
  • A great shock to the eye(触目惊心)
  • To be scared out of one's wits(惊魂未定)
  • To startle heaven and move earth(惊天动地)
  • A false alarm(虚惊一场)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 惊 reflects a deep-seated cultural emphasis on emotional restraint; being easily 'startled' can imply a lack of composure.
  • In literature and poetry, 惊 is often used to describe sudden, impactful moments that break tranquility.
  • It is frequently used in idioms to convey the scale of an event, from personal shock (吃惊) to world-altering events (惊天动地).

FAQ