触目惊心

觸目驚心

chùmù-jīngxīn

idiom HSK 7-9 #34,845

Meanings

1 shocking
2 horrifying to see
3 a ghastly sight

Characters

to touch; to reach

to startle; to shock

Examples

车祸现场的惨状触目惊心。

Chēhuò xiànchǎng de cǎnzhuàng chùmùjīngxīn.

The devastation at the accident scene was horrifying to see.

环境污染的数据触目惊心。

Huánjìng wūrǎn de shùjù chùmùjīngxīn.

The environmental pollution data is shocking.

Tips

memory

Literally 'touches the eye, startles the heart' — the sight is so terrible that merely seeing it sends a shock to your heart. Picture seeing something so awful your eyes and heart both react.

Stroke Order

触 chù

目 mù

惊 jīng

心 xīn