詟 (zhé) - To fear & to dread

詟Tone 2

zhé ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

丈志

詟 · zhé

To fear;

to dread;

to be terrified;

to tremble with fear.

To fearto dreadto be terrified

Usage highlights

Fear and dreadTremble with fearBe terrifiedDread consequencesInspire terrorFearful countenance

Synonyms

  • 惧— fear, dread
  • 怕— fear, be afraid
  • 畏— fear, dread, respect

Antonyms

  • 勇— brave, courageous
  • 敢— dare, bold

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was terrified of the consequences (詟于后果).
  • The villagers trembled at the sight (村民见之而詟).
  • Her voice was filled with dread (她的声音充满詟惧).

Collocations

  • Fear and dread(詟惧)
  • Tremble with fear(战詟)
  • Be terrified(惊詟)
  • Dread consequences(詟于后果)
  • Inspire terror(令人詟服)
  • Fearful countenance(詟色)

Idioms

  • Trembling with fear(战战詟詟)
  • So terrified that one's face changes color(詟然失色)
  • Fear that makes one's hair stand on end(令人发詟)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • This character is considered literary and formal, rarely used in modern colloquial speech.
  • Often appears in classical Chinese texts describing psychological states of fear and awe.
  • The character structure combines 'speech' (言) with a component suggesting repeated action, implying fearful speech or trembling words.

FAQ