惶恐不安

huángkǒng-bù'ān

idiom

Meanings

HSK 3

听到消息后，全村人惶恐不安。

Tīngdào xiāoxi hòu, quáncūn rén huángkǒng-bù'ān.

After hearing the news, the whole village was gripped by fear.

HSK 5

面试前他惶恐不安，手心直冒汗。

Miànshì qián tā huángkǒng-bù'ān, shǒuxīn zhí màohàn.

Before the interview he was so nervous his palms were sweating.

history

Phrase documented in 《汉书·王莽传》 via Tang commentator Yan Shigu, who glossed 正营 as 惶恐不安之意 - 'the sense of being terrified and uneasy'.

惶 huáng

恐 kǒng

不 bù

安 ān