吃惊 chī jīng be startled
be startled; be shocked; be amazed
How to remember 吃惊: 吃 eat + 惊 frighten = be startled.
Characters
How it is used
- To be startled / taken aback - 我很吃惊 (wǒ hěn chījīng) I was shocked; 大吃一惊 (dà chī yì jīng) get a real shock.
- A verb-object compound (literally 'eat a fright'), so it splits: 吃了一惊.
- Contrast 惊讶 (jīngyà), a more adjectival 'astonished'; 吃惊 is the everyday spoken 'startled/surprised'.
Example sentences
- 你看起来很吃惊。 Nǐ kànqǐlái hěn chījīng.You look surprised.
- 所有人都很吃惊。 Suǒyǒurén dōu hěn chījīng.Everyone was surprised.
- 这个消息令人吃惊。 Zhège xiāoxi lìngrén chījīng.The news is surprising.