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惊世骇俗 (jīng shì hài sú) — to shock the world with something extraordinary; to be extremely unconventional or outrageous

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning 'so unconventional it shocks the world' — used for ideas, art, or behavior that break strongly with public norms. Always carries a strong, often admiring sense.

idiom
to shock the world with something extraordinaryto be extremely unconventional or outrageous

Examples

  • 惊世骇俗，。
    Tā de yì shù chuàng zuò jīng shì hài sú, ràng suǒ yǒu rén dōu gǎn dào zhèn jīng.
    His artistic creation shocked the world, making everyone feel astonished.
  • 惊世骇俗，。
    Zhè ge kē xué lǐ lùn jīng shì hài sú, chè dǐ gǎi biàn le rén men duì yǔ zhòu de rèn shi.
    This scientific theory shocked the world, completely changing people's understanding of the universe.
  • 惊世骇俗，。
    Tā nà yì shēn dǎ bàn jīng shì hài sú, zài jiē shàng yǐn qǐ le hōng dòng.
    Her outfit was extremely unconventional, causing a sensation on the street.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

惊世startle the world
惊jīngstartle世shìworld
动宾Verb + object
骇俗shock customs
骇hàishock俗súcustoms
动宾Verb + object

惊世 (startle the world) and 骇俗 (shock customs) combine to mean strikingly unconventional.

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
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.

Open 惊 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 世 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 駭; 骇 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
亥
亥hài駭hài
Same sound today

The traditional form 駭 pairs 馬 (horse) with 亥 as a sound part; 骇 is the simplified form.

Open 骇 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
谷
谷gǔ俗sú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

俗 is built from 亻, a person, and 谷, which gives the sound; it refers to customs of people.

Open 俗 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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