吓

• Pinyin: xià
• Hanzi breakdown: 吓 = 口 (mouth) + 下 (down, phonetic component)

Meaning

To scare; to frighten. Used when something or someone causes fear or shock in another person.

Often appears in compounds like 吓人 (scary) or 吓一跳 (to be startled). Can be used both transitively (to scare someone) and in resultative complements. The related character 嚇 (hè) means to threaten or intimidate.

Examples

1. 那部恐怖电影把小孩子吓哭了。 That horror movie scared the child to tears.
2. 别躲在门后面吓人，太危险了。 Don't hide behind the door to scare people, it's too dangerous.
3. 她被突如其来的消息吓了一大跳。 She was shocked by the sudden news.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, storytelling

Tone: dramatic

Do Say

• 你吓死我了！(You scared me to death!)
• 这个故事太吓人了。(This story is too scary.)

Don't Say

• 我很吓 (Don't use 吓 as an adjective for yourself — say 我很害怕 instead)

Origin & History

Composed of 口 (mouth) and 下 (down), suggesting a downward exclamation of fear.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal