HSK · Level 9
135 words
Chinese word
吓人
Pronunciation
Pinyinxià rén
Meaning
- adjectivescary
Example
这个故事很吓人。zhè ge gù shì hěn xià rén
This story is very scary.
More examples
这部电影有几处镜头很吓人，观众当场惊呼。zhè bù diàn yǐng yǒu jǐ chù jìng tóu hěn xià rén guān zhòng dāng chǎng jīng hū
There are several very scary scenes in this movie, and the audience cried out in surprise right away.
Core concept
Something that makes a person feel suddenly frightened or quietly unsettled.
Common phrases
很吓人hěn xià rén
very scary
吓人的电影xià rén de diàn yǐng
scary film
吓人的装扮xià rén de zhuāng bàn
scary outfit
Similar words
可怕kě pà: Frightening in a general way, often because of possible danger or trouble.
恐怖kǒng bù: Extremely frightening, with fear or anxiety strong enough to affect the mind and body.
Definition in Chinese
表示让人感到突然惊惧或不安，可作形容词也可作动词，常用于描述事情、场面或言行。biǎo shì ràng rén gǎn dào tū rán jīng jù huò bù ān kě zuò xíng róng cí yě kě zuò dòng cí cháng yòng yú miáo shù shì qíng chǎng miàn huò yán xíng
Word origin
吓 (xià, "to frighten") + 人 (rén, "person") combines an act with its human target, giving the word the sense of causing a person to feel alarmed or uneasy.
Usage tips
- English speakers can use this word for a person's words or behavior as well as for a scene or object, which makes it useful in everyday comments.