Chinese word

受惊

Pronunciation

Pinyinshòu jīng

Meaning

  • verbbe startled

Example

听到门突然开，我一下子受惊了。tīng dào mén tū rán kāi wǒ yí xià zi shòu jīng le

When I heard the door suddenly open, I was startled.

Illustration for 受惊 (be startled)

More examples

猫听到鞭炮声，受惊地钻到了沙发下面。māo tīng dào biān pào shēng shòu jīng dì zuān dào le shā fā xià miàn

The cat heard the sound of firecrackers and, startled, crawled under the sofa.

Core concept

A person is caught off guard by a sudden stimulus and briefly feels the body and mind react with alarm.

Common phrases

  • 一下子受惊了yí xià zi shòu jīng le

    be suddenly startled

  • 被突如其来的声音弄得受惊bèi tū rú qí lái de shēng yīn nòng de shòu jīng

    be startled by a sudden sound

  • 受惊地跑开shòu jīng dì pǎo kāi

    run away in fright

Similar words

吃惊chī jīng: Be taken by surprise when something unexpected happens.
被吓到bèi xià dào: Be scared by a person, thing, or event.
吓到xià dào: React with sudden fright to an unexpected event.
吓一跳xià yí tiào: Be startled for just a moment by a sudden surprise.

Definition in Chinese

因突然的声音或景象受到惊吓，感到害怕或吃惊。yīn tū rán de shēng yīn huò jǐng xiàng shòu dào jīng xià gǎn dào hài pà huò chī jīng

Word origin

受惊 (shòujīng, "be startled") is formed from 受 (shòu, "receive") and 惊 (jīng, "startle"), linking an external shock with the fear or surprise it produces.

Usage tips

  • The word fits sudden noises and sights, so it is more specific than English "surprised," which can also describe a planned gift or an unexpected fact without any alarm.

Other meanings

  • be surprisedverb
  • be frightenedverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word