Chinese word

骇人听闻

Pronunciation

Pinyinhài rén tīng wén

Meaning

  • idiomshocking

Example

这次调查的结果太骇人听闻了。zhè cì diào chá de jié guǒ tài hài rén tīng wén le

The results of this investigation are extremely shocking.

Illustration for 骇人听闻 (shocking)

More examples

公司内部流出的文件显示了骇人听闻的内幕。gōng sī nèi bù liú chū de wén jiàn xiǎn shì le hài rén tīng wén de nèi mù

Documents leaked from inside the company revealed shocking inside information.

Core concept

News or a fact lands with such force that the listener feels shock and dread at once.

Common phrases

  • 太骇人听闻了tài hài rén tīng wén le

    too shocking

  • 骇人听闻的事实hài rén tīng wén de shì shí

    shocking fact

  • 骇人听闻的后果hài rén tīng wén de hòu guǒ

    shocking consequences

Similar words

惊世骇俗jīng shì hài sú: Actions or events so shocking that they overturn accepted social norms and moral expectations.
触目惊心chù mù jīng xīn: A sight that causes intense shock and painful distress when seen.
毛骨悚然máo gú sǒng rán: A feeling of terror or disgust that makes the hair on the body seem to stand up.

Definition in Chinese

用于指消息或事实一被听到就令人感到极大震惊甚至毛骨悚然的成语。yòng yú zhǐ xiāo xī huò shì shí yí bèi tīng dào jiù lìng rén gǎn dào jí dà zhèn jīng shèn zhì máo gú sǒng rán de chéng yǔ

Word origin

骇 (hài, "frighten") + 人 (rén, "people") + 听 (tīng, "hear") + 闻 (wén, "hear of") form an idiom for information that frightens people as soon as they hear of it.

Usage tips

  • This strong idiom suits serious reports or discussions, while using it for a small surprise makes the reaction sound exaggerated.

Other meanings

  • horrifyingidiom

Opposites

  • 不足为奇bù zú wéi qínot surprisingidiom
  • 习以为常xí yǐ wéi chángbe used to itidiom

Word lists with this word