吓唬 xiàhu to scare
to scare; to frighten
How to remember 吓唬: 吓 to scare + 唬 to intimidate = to scare.
Characters
How it is used
- To scare or intimidate someone on purpose - 别吓唬孩子 (bié xiàhu háizi) don't frighten the kid; 拿话吓唬人 (ná huà xiàhu rén) scare people with words.
- Colloquial, and implies deliberate bluffing or threatening, unlike the neutral 吓 (xià) which can be accidental.
Example sentences
- 别想吓唬我。 Biéxiǎng xiàhǔ wǒ.Don't try to intimidate me.
- 我没想吓唬你。 Wǒ méixiǎng xiàhǔ nǐ.I didn't want to surprise you.