惊栗

驚慄

jīnglì

noun

Meanings

HSK 1

他喜欢看惊栗电影。

Tā xǐhuan kàn jīnglì diànyǐng.

He likes watching horror movies.

HSK 7-9

这本惊栗小说让人毛骨悚然。

Zhè běn jīnglì xiǎoshuō ràng rén máogǔsǒngrán.

This thriller novel makes your hair stand on end.

usage

Common in HK/Taiwan media as the genre label for 'horror/thriller' (惊栗片 = horror film). Mainland media more often uses 惊悚 for the same genre.

memory

栗 literally means 'chestnut', but here is borrowed for its other reading 'to shudder' (as in 不寒而栗 'shiver without cold'). 惊栗 = startle + shudder.

惊 jīng

栗 lì