震慑 (zhèn shè) — to deter, to intimidate (by showing strength or power); to awe, to inspire awe

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to overawe and intimidate by sheer force or presence' — combine 震 (shock) + 慑 (intimidate), so the effect is stronger than plain 吓 or 威胁.

verb
to deterto intimidate (by showing strength or power)to aweto inspire awe

Examples

  • 震慑。
    Qiáng dà de jūn shì lì liàng kě yǐ zhèn shè dí rén.
    Strong military power can deter the enemy.
  • 震慑。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng zhèn shè le zài chǎng de suǒ yǒu rén.
    His speech awed everyone present.
  • 震慑。
    Zhè zhǒng wēi shè lì zú yǐ zhèn shè rèn hé qián zài de wēi xié.
    This deterrence is enough to deter any potential threat.

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.

震zhènshake
慑shèintimidate

震 means shake and 慑 means intimidate, so the word names striking awe and 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
雨雨yǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
辰
辰chén震zhèn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

震 combines 雨 (rain) with 辰 (chén), which gives the sound; 雨 is the part associated with the character’s meaning.

Open 震 →

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 懾; 慑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
聶
聶niè懾
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 懾 pairs 心 (heart) with 聶 as a sound part; the simplified 慑 is a later shorthand.

Open 慑 →

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