恐怖

kǒngbù

adjective HSK 7-9 #1,004

Meanings

这部恐怖电影太吓人了。

Zhèbù kǒngbù diànyǐng tài xiàrén le.

This horror movie is too scary.

恐怖分子袭击了机场。

Kǒngbù fènzǐ xíjī le jīchǎng.

Terrorists attacked the airport.

usage

恐怖 works as both an adjective (terrifying) and part of compound nouns: 恐怖片 (horror film), 恐怖分子 (terrorist), 恐怖主义 (terrorism).

memory

恐 (fear) + 怖 (dread) — both characters have the heart radical 忄/心, showing this is about deep emotional fear.

恐 kǒng

怖 bù