惊人

• Pinyin: jīng rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 惊 = 忄(heart) + 京 (capital, phonetic), to startle; 人 = pictograph of a person

Meaning

Amazing; astonishing; startling. Describes something that shocks or surprises people due to its remarkable nature.

Used to describe quantities, achievements, speeds, or changes that exceed normal expectations. Often appears in phrases like 惊人的速度 (amazing speed), 惊人的成就 (remarkable achievement), or 数量惊人 (astonishing quantity). Carries a neutral-to-positive connotation, though context can shift it toward alarming.

Examples

1. 这家公司去年的业绩增长速度惊人，让整个行业都刮目相看。 This company's performance growth last year was astonishing, making the entire industry take notice.
2. 她的记忆力惊人，只看一遍就能把整篇文章背下来。 Her memory is amazing — she can recite an entire article after reading it just once.
3. 最近这座城市的房价上涨幅度惊人，普通人根本买不起。 The recent rise in housing prices in this city has been alarming; ordinary people simply can't afford to buy.

Usage Guide

Context: news, commentary, everyday

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 他的进步速度惊人。(His rate of progress is astonishing.)
• 这次考试的难度惊人，好多人都没及格。(The difficulty of this exam was shocking — many people failed.)

Don't Say

• 用惊人形容负面的小事，如'今天的作业量惊人' (Overusing 惊人 for trivial complaints sounds melodramatic — save it for truly remarkable situations)

Origin & History

Compound of 惊 (to startle, to surprise) + 人 (people). Literally 'startling people' — so remarkable it causes surprise.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal