大吃一惊 (dà chī-yì jīng) — to be greatly shocked, to be startled
Definition
A set phrase meaning 'to be greatly shocked' — stronger than 吃惊 ('startled') and focuses on the sudden reaction, unlike 目瞪口呆 which describes a frozen, speechless state.
phrase
to be greatly shockedto be startled
Examples
- 大吃一惊。Tā tīng dào zhè ge xiāo xi dà chī-yì jīng.He was greatly shocked when he heard this news.
- ，大吃一惊。Kàn dào yǎn qián de jǐng xiàng, suǒ yǒu rén dōu dà chī-yì jīng.Seeing the scene before them, everyone was shocked.
- 大吃一惊，。Kǎo shì jié guǒ ràng tā dà chī-yì jīng, yīn wèi tā yǐ wéi zì jǐ bù jí gé.The exam results shocked him because he thought he had failed.
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