惶恐

huángkǒng

adjective #17,053

Meanings

1 terrified
2 panic-stricken
3 anxious and fearful

Characters

fearful; apprehensive

afraid; terrified

Both characters mean 'fear' — the doubling intensifies the sense of dread.

Examples

听到消息后，他感到十分惶恐。

Tīngdào xiāoxi hòu, tā gǎndào shífēn huángkǒng.

After hearing the news, he felt very terrified.

她惶恐不安地等待着结果。

Tā huángkǒng bù'ān de děngdài zhe jiéguǒ.

She waited for the results in anxious dread.

Tips

register

惶恐 is literary/formal. In everyday speech, 害怕 (hàipà) or 恐惧 (kǒngjù) are more natural for expressing fear.

Stroke Order

惶 huáng

恐 kǒng