触目惊心

Chinese HSK 7-9 Vocabulary Chinese ★★ 2/5 formal chù mù jīng xīn

拼音 chù mù jīng xīn

汉字拆解 触 = to touch; 目 = eye; 惊 = to startle; 心 = heart — seeing something that shocks the heart

含义

Shocking to the eye; appalling; horrifying. Something so disturbing that it shocks anyone who sees it.

A four-character idiom (成语) used to describe scenes, situations, or facts that are deeply disturbing or alarming when witnessed. Common in news reports, documentaries, and dramatic descriptions.

例句

战争带来的破坏触目惊心，让人心痛。
调查报告揭露的数据触目惊心。
事故现场的惨状触目惊心，令人不忍直视。

用法指南

语境: news, documentary, literary

语气: serious

正确说法

这些环境污染的照片触目惊心。(These photos of environmental pollution are shocking.)
腐败案件的细节触目惊心。(The details of the corruption case are appalling.)

错误说法

这道菜触目惊心 (The idiom is for genuinely shocking/disturbing things — for ugly food, use 难看 or 卖相不好)

起源与历史

Classical Chinese idiom: 触 (touch/encounter) + 目 (eye) + 惊 (startle) + 心 (heart). Literally 'touching the eyes, startling the heart.'

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal