驚 (jīng) - To startle & to be frightened

驚Tone 1

jīng ｜ 22 strokes ｜ radical:

傑君

驚 · jīng

To startle;

to be frightened;

to alarm;

to surprise;

to amaze;

to shock.

To startleto be frightenedto alarm

Usage highlights

To be startledTo be shockedTo be frightenedTo surprise peopleTo startle the worldTo be alarmed

Synonyms

  • 吓— to frighten, to scare
  • 骇— to be astonished, to be shocked
  • 震— to shock, to vibrate

Antonyms

  • 静— calm, quiet
  • 安— peaceful, tranquil
  • 定— settled, stable

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The sudden noise startled me (惊了我).
  • This news is shocking (惊人消息).
  • He was frightened by the thunder (被雷声惊到).
  • The performance amazed the audience (惊艳全场).

Collocations

  • To be startled(吃惊)
  • To be shocked(震惊)
  • To be frightened(惊恐)
  • To surprise people(惊人)
  • To startle the world(惊世)
  • To be alarmed(惊慌)

Idioms

  • To astonish the world and move the gods(惊天地泣鬼神)
  • To be frightened out of one's wits(惊魂未定)
  • To be scared stiff(惊若寒蝉)
  • To be shocked and angry(惊怒交加)
  • To startle at the sight of one's own shadow(惊弓之鸟)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character contains the horse radical (馬), suggesting a startled horse as the original concept.
  • Used in both positive (amazement) and negative (fright) contexts in Chinese culture.
  • Appears frequently in classical literature describing sudden emotional reactions.

FAQ