震惊

• Pinyin: zhèn jīng
• Hanzi breakdown: 震 = 雨 (rain) + 辰 (phonetic), thunder-related; 惊 = 忄(heart) + 京 (phonetic)

Meaning

To shock; to astonish; shocked; astonished. A strong emotional reaction to surprising or disturbing news.

Used for major events that cause widespread surprise. Common phrases: 令人震惊 (shocking), 震惊世界 (shock the world), 深感震惊 (deeply shocked). Stronger than 惊讶, implies something significant or disturbing.

Examples

1. 这个消息震惊了整个公司。 This news shocked the entire company.
2. 她对结果感到非常震惊，一时说不出话来。 She was so shocked by the result that she couldn't speak for a moment.
3. 科学家的新发现震惊了学术界。 The scientist's new discovery shocked the academic world.

Usage Guide

Context: news, reactions, events

Tone: dramatic

Do Say

• 我听到这个消息很震惊。(I was shocked to hear this news.)
• 这件事震惊了全国。(This incident shocked the whole country.)

Don't Say

• 我震惊他的礼物 (Wrong structure — use 被...震惊 or 对...感到震惊)

Origin & History

Compound of 震 (to shake, to quake) and 惊 (to be startled). Shaken and startled.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal