懔 (lǐn) - To be fearful, apprehensive, or in awe & to be cautious and respectful

懔Tone 3

lǐn ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

林伦

懔 · lǐn

To be fearful, apprehensive, or in awe;

to be cautious and respectful;

to feel a sense of dread or trepidation.

To be fearful, apprehensive, or in aweto be cautious and respectfulto feel a sense of dread or trepidation.

Usage highlights

Fearful and cautiousReverent aweApprehensive and uneasyStrictly abide byTremble with fearAwe

Synonyms

  • 惧— fear, dread
  • 畏— fear, revere
  • 惶— fearful, anxious

Antonyms

  • 安— calm, peaceful
  • 肆— unrestrained, reckless
  • 怠— neglectful, lazy

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He felt fearful and apprehensive (懔懔不安).
  • The soldiers were in awe of strict military discipline (懔遵军纪).
  • She showed reverent fear towards her elders (懔然起敬).
  • The warning made everyone cautious (使人懔然).

Collocations

  • Fearful and cautious(懔惧)
  • Reverent awe(懔敬)
  • Apprehensive and uneasy(懔栗)
  • Strictly abide by(懔遵)
  • Tremble with fear(懔慄)
  • Awe-inspiring(懔然)

Idioms

  • Trembling with fear(懔懔危惧)
  • In constant fear and trepidation(懔懔不安)
  • Stand in awe of(懔然生畏)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Derived from the concept of respectful fear or awe, often in contexts of authority, discipline, or moral gravity.
  • Used in classical texts to describe the attitude of reverence and caution towards rulers, elders, or strict codes of conduct.
  • Implies a deep-seated emotional response combining fear, respect, and vigilance.

FAQ