魂飞魄散 (hún fēi pò sàn) — to be scared out of one's wits; frightened half to death

Definition

A vivid chengyu for extreme fright — 'soul flying away, spirit scattered'. Stronger than common expressions like 吓坏了: it pictures total, overwhelming terror, and is used in writing or storytelling rather than everyday chat.

idiom
to be scared out of one's witsfrightened half to death

Examples

  • 魂飞魄散
    Tū rán chū xiàn de hēi yǐng xià dé tā hún fēi pò sàn.
    The sudden black shadow scared him out of his wits.
  • 魂飞魄散
    Tīng dào nà ge xiāo xi, tā xià dé hún fēi pò sàn.
    Hearing that news, she was frightened half to death.
  • 魂飞魄散
    Tā dú zì zǒu zài qī hēi de xiàng zi lǐ, xīn lǐ hún fēi pò sàn.
    Walking alone in the pitch-black alley, he was scared out of his wits.

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魂飞魄散 (hún fēi pò sàn) — to be scared out of one's wits; frightened half… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary