惊惧 (jīng jù) — scared, fearful

Definition

Literary adjective meaning 'scared, fearful,' stronger and more written than the everyday 害怕. Often used in formal prose to describe a felt state of dread.

adjective
scaredfearful
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，惊惧。
    Tā tīng dào nà ge xiāo xi hòu, xīn zhōng chōng mǎn le jīng jù.
    After hearing that news, his heart was filled with fear.
  • ，惊惧。
    Miàn duì tū rú qí lái de wēi xiǎn, tā gǎn dào yí zhèn jīng jù.
    Facing the sudden danger, she felt a wave of fear.
  • 惊惧。
    Tā de yǎn shén zhōng liú lù chū shēn shēn de jīng jù.
    His eyes revealed deep fear.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

惊jīngfright
惧jùfear

惊 and 惧 both express fear, so together they intensify the sense of being scared.

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
具
具jù惧jù
Same sound today

In 惧, the left part is 忄, the heart, and the right part 具 gives the sound.

Open 惧 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.