恐慌 (kǒng huāng) — panicky, panic-stricken | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

恐慌 focuses on the fear and loss of calm itself, stronger and more emotional than 慌张 (flustered, scattered actions). Closer in intensity to 惊慌 (alarmed), but emphasizes the resulting panic rather than the initial shock.

adjective

panickypanic-stricken

Examples

恐慌。
Gǔ shì dà diē ràng hěn duō rén gǎn dào kǒng huāng.
The stock market crash made many people feel panicky.
恐慌，。
Yù dào tū fā shì jiàn shí bú yào kǒng huāng, yào bǎo chí lěng jìng.
Don't panic when encountering an emergency; stay calm.
恐慌。
Tā liǎn shàng lù chū le kǒng huāng de shén sè.
A panicky expression appeared on his face.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

慌huāngflustered

恐 (fear) and 慌 (flustered) combine to describe a state of panic or anxiety.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

𢀜

𢀜𢀜恐kǒng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

恐 is written with 心 (heart). The older form pairs 心 with 𢀜; the modern form can be read as 巩 above 心.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

忄荒慌

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

荒

荒huāng慌huāng

Same sound today

慌 pairs 忄 (heart) with 荒, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Emotions & Feelings

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