惊吓 jīngxià to frighten
to frighten; to horrify; to terrify
How to remember 惊吓: 惊 frighten + 吓 to scare = to frighten.
Characters
How it is used
- To frighten/scare, causing a fright - 受到惊吓 (shòudào jīngxià) to get a scare/be startled.
- The victim 受惊吓; more about the shock of being startled than lasting terror.
- Contrast 吓唬 (xiàhu), to deliberately spook someone; 惊吓 focuses on the frightening effect itself, often accidental.
Example sentences
- 猴子跳到他身上的时候，他受到了惊吓。 Hóuzi tiàodào tā shēnshàng de shíhòu, tā shòudào le jīngxià.He was scared when the monkey jumped at him.