胆战心惊 (dǎn zhàn xīn jīng) — to be terror-stricken; to tremble with fear | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A vivid 成语 meaning 'trembling with fear' — 胆 (gallbladder) and 心 (heart) both shaking. Stronger and more literary than 害怕, used in writing or dramatic speech.

idiom

to be terror-strickento tremble with fear

Examples

胆战心惊。
Nà chǎng bào fēng yǔ xià dé dà jiā dǎn zhàn xīn jīng.
That storm frightened everyone so badly they trembled with fear.
，胆战心惊。
Tā zhàn zài xuán yá biān, bù jīn gǎn dào dǎn zhàn xīn jīng.
Standing at the edge of the cliff, he couldn't help but feel terrified.
，胆战心惊，。
Tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi, tā xià dé dǎn zhàn xīn jīng, yí jù huà yě shuō bù chū lái.
Upon hearing the news, she was so frightened that she couldn't say a word.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

胆战courage trembles

胆dǎncourage战zhàntremble

主谓Subject + predicate

心惊heart is frightened

心xīnheart惊jīngfrightened

主谓Subject + predicate

“胆” and “心” are paired with “战” and “惊”, saying courage and heart tremble in fear.

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

⺼Written in full as肉ròubody part

Sound part声符shēngfú

旦

旦dàn胆dǎn

Same sound today

胆 combines ⺼, written as 肉 when full, for a body part, with 旦 as a sound part.

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

占戈战

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

占

占zhàn战zhàn

Same sound today

战 pairs 占, which gives its sound, with 戈, a weapon.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 心 comes from a drawing of a heart, now highly stylized.

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

忄京惊

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

京

京jīng惊jīng

Same sound today

惊 is made from 忄 (heart) and 京, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Emotions & Feelings Idioms & Set Phrases

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