骇然

駭然

hàirán

adjective

Meanings

1 aghast
2 dumbstruck (with shock or horror)
3 stunned

Characters

to startle; to shock

(suffix: in a ... manner)

Examples

听到这个噩耗，他骇然失色。

Tīngdào zhège èhào, tā hàirán shīsè.

On hearing the dreadful news, he turned pale with shock.

现场的惨状令人骇然。

Xiànchǎng de cǎnzhuàng lìng rén hàirán.

The grisly scene left people aghast.

Tips

register

Literary/written. The 然 suffix builds adjectives of state — compare 茫然 (bewildered), 愕然 (stunned), 哑然 (speechless). For everyday speech, 吓死了 (scared to death) is far more natural.

Stroke Order

骇 hài

然 rán