惊呼 (jīng hū) — to cry out in alarm; to exclaim in surprise

Definition

惊呼 (jīnghū) is an intransitive verb meaning to cry out in sudden alarm or shock, as a reflexive reaction rather than to call out to someone. Often combines with 起来 or 一声 to mark the sudden start of the cry.

verb
to cry out in alarmto exclaim in surprise

Examples

  • ，惊呼。
    Kàn dào nà ge chǎng jǐng, suǒ yǒu rén dōu jīng hū qǐ lái.
    Seeing that scene, everyone cried out in alarm.
  • 惊呼，。
    Tā jīng hū yī shēng, cóng mèng zhōng jīng xǐng.
    He cried out in alarm and woke up from his dream.
  • 惊呼，。
    Guān zhòng men fā chū yí zhèn jīng hū, wèi zhè jīng xiǎn de biǎo yǎn niē le yì bǎ hàn.
    The audience let out a cry of alarm, holding their breath for this thrilling performance.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

惊jīngalarm
呼hūcry out

惊 adds alarm to 呼, so the sense is to cry out in surprise.

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 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
乎
乎hū呼hū
Same sound today

呼 uses 口 (mouth) to show exhaling, calling, or shouting, and 乎 gives the sound.

Open 呼 →

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