恐慌

• Pinyin: kǒng huāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 恐 = fear; 慌 = 忄(heart) + 荒 (wasteland/flustered)

Meaning

Panic; alarm; terror. A state of widespread fear and anxiety.

Describes both individual panic and collective panic affecting groups or markets. Common in describing financial crises (金融恐慌), public health scares, or mass hysteria. Implies fear that spreads and intensifies.

Examples

1. 谣言引发了公众的恐慌情绪。 Rumors triggered public panic.
2. 股市暴跌引发了投资者的恐慌性抛售。 The stock market crash triggered panic selling by investors.
3. 政府呼吁民众保持冷静，不要恐慌。 The government called on people to stay calm and not panic.

Usage Guide

Context: crisis, psychology, finance

Tone: urgent

Do Say

• 不要恐慌，保持冷静。(Don't panic — stay calm.)
• 市场出现了恐慌情绪。(Panic has appeared in the market.)

Don't Say

• 考试让我恐慌。(For exam nerves, use 紧张 — 恐慌 implies more severe, widespread fear)

Origin & History

Compound of 恐 (fear) + 慌 (flustered/panicked). Together intensifies the meaning of panic.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal