惊

• Pinyin: jīng
• Hanzi breakdown: 惊 = 忄(heart) + 京 (phonetic) — to startle, be alarmed

Meaning

To startle; to frighten; to be alarmed. A sudden feeling of surprise or fear.

As a standalone verb, means to startle or be startled. Forms the basis of many compound words expressing surprise or fear: 惊讶 (surprised), 惊恐 (terrified), 惊喜 (pleasantly surprised). Can be used for both causing and experiencing alarm.

Examples

1. 一声巨响惊醒了所有人。 A loud noise startled everyone awake.
2. 别惊着孩子，轻点说话。 Don't startle the child; speak more softly.
3. 他被门口突然出现的人影吓了一惊。 He was given a fright by the figure that suddenly appeared at the door.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday speech, descriptions, literature

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 吓了一惊。(Got a fright.)
• 别惊着他。(Don't startle him.)

Don't Say

• 我很惊 alone (Don't use 惊 alone as an adjective — use 惊讶 or 吃惊; standalone 惊 functions as a verb or in compounds)

Origin & History

A pictophonetic character with 忄 (heart radical) indicating emotion and 京 as the phonetic component. Represents the heart's reaction to something startling.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal