惊心动魄

Chinese HSK 7-9 Vocabulary Chinese ★★ 2/5 literary jīng xīn dòng pò

拼音 jīng xīn dòng pò

汉字拆解 惊 = startle; 心 = heart; 动 = move; 魄 = soul, spirit (bodily aspect)

含义

Soul-stirring; breathtaking; deeply moving. An experience so intense it shakes one's very soul.

A four-character idiom describing something that is emotionally or dramatically intense. Often used for impressive performances, dramatic events, or powerful experiences. Stronger than 惊险 and implies deeper emotional impact.

例句

这场交响乐演出惊心动魄，让观众久久不能平静。
历史上那场惊心动魄的战役改变了整个国家的命运。
消防员在大火中救人的场面令人惊心动魄。

用法指南

语境: performances, history, dramatic events

语气: emphatic

正确说法

惊心动魄的表演。(A soul-stirring performance.)
惊心动魄的经历。(A breathtaking experience.)

错误说法

惊心动魄的平常事 (Don't use 惊心动魄 for mundane matters — it's reserved for truly exceptional, intense experiences)

起源与历史

Composed of 惊心 (startling the heart) + 动魄 (moving the soul). 魄 refers to the bodily soul in Chinese philosophy.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Literary/formal contexts