激起

• Pinyin: jī qǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 激 = 氵 + 敫 (forceful water surge); 起 = 走 + 己 (rise, begin)

Meaning

To arouse; to stir up; to provoke. To cause a strong emotion, reaction, or disturbance to emerge.

Used when an event or statement triggers a strong emotional or physical response. Common collocations: 激起公愤 (arouse public outrage), 激起波浪 (stir up waves), 激起共鸣 (resonate strongly). Implies a visible, often intense reaction.

Examples

1. 他的不当言论激起了广大网友的强烈不满，相关话题迅速登上热搜榜首。 His inappropriate remarks sparked strong outrage among a huge number of internet users, and the topic quickly shot to the top of the trending list.
2. 这首老歌激起了她对青春岁月的深切怀念，眼眶不禁微微泛红。 That old song stirred up her deep nostalgia for her youth, and her eyes couldn’t help but redden slightly.
3. 政府的政策调整激起了各界人士的广泛讨论，社会舆论呈现出前所未有的活跃态势。 The government’s policy adjustment sparked widespread discussion across different sectors, and public opinion became more active than ever.

Usage Guide

Context: media, politics, literature

Tone: intense

Do Say

• 他的慷慨发言激起了在场所有听众的强烈共鸣，现场掌声经久不息。(His passionate speech resonated deeply with all the listeners present, and the applause lasted for a long time.)
• 这一不公正的判决激起了社会各界的强烈抗议，众多法学专家纷纷公开发表批评意见。(This unjust verdict aroused strong protests across society, with many legal experts publicly voicing criticism.)

Don't Say

• 激起高兴 — use 引发喜悦 or 激发喜悦; 激起 pairs with strong or negative emotions, not mild positive ones

Origin & History

激 (stir/arouse with force) + 起 (rise/begin)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal