駴 (hài) - To startle & to alarm

駴Tone 4

hài ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

駴 · hài

To startle;

to alarm;

to cause a commotion;

also refers to the sound of drums in ancient military usage.

To startleto alarmto cause a commotion

Usage highlights

Startle horsesAlarm drumsGreat commotionMilitary alarmStartle the crowd

Synonyms

  • 惊— to startle; to surprise
  • 骇— to astonish; to shock

Antonyms

  • 安— calm; peaceful
  • 静— quiet; still

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The sudden noise startled the horses (駴马).
  • Ancient armies used drums to signal alarm (鼓駴).
  • The news caused a great commotion in the city (全城駴然).

Collocations

  • Startle horses(駴马)
  • Alarm drums(鼓駴)
  • Great commotion(駴然)
  • Military alarm(军駴)
  • Startle the crowd(駴众)

Idioms

  • Startling heaven and moving earth(惊天地駴鬼神)
  • Causing widespread alarm(举国駴然)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used in classical Chinese military contexts for alarm signals.
  • Appears in historical texts describing sudden disturbances or surprises.
  • Rare in modern usage, primarily found in literary or historical contexts.

FAQ