人心惶惶

rénxīn-huánghuáng

idiom #29,531

Meanings

疫情初期，社会上人心惶惶。

Yìqíng chūqī, shèhuì shàng rénxīn-huánghuáng.

In the early days of the epidemic, there was widespread panic in society.

谣言四起，弄得人心惶惶。

Yáoyán sìqǐ, nòng de rénxīn-huánghuáng.

Rumors spread everywhere, causing public anxiety.

memory

惶 contains 心 (heart) and sounds like 'huang' — imagine everyone's heart trembling in fear. Double 惶惶 intensifies the feeling of collective anxiety.

人 rén

心 xīn

惶 huáng