惊骇

驚駭

jīnghài

verb #36,789

Meanings

1 to be shocked
2 to be appalled
3 to be terrified

Characters

to startle / shock

to terrify / horrify

Examples

HSK 6

她惊骇地睁大了眼睛，说不出话来。

Tā jīnghài de zhēng dà le yǎnjing, shuō bù chū huà lái.

Her eyes went wide with horror; she couldn't speak.

HSK 7-9

现场的惨状令所有人惊骇。

Xiànchǎng de cǎnzhuàng lìng suǒyǒurén jīnghài.

The grim scene appalled everyone present.

Tips

register

惊骇 is more literary and stronger than 吃惊 (chījīng, 'surprised') or 害怕 (hàipà, 'afraid'). It implies a combination of shock and horror - pick it for written narrative or formal speech, not casual conversation.

Stroke Order

惊 jīng

骇 hài