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March 24, 2026
愕è(e4)
The character 愕 (è) conveys a sense of being startled or alarmed, often in response to something unexpected or shocking. It can be used to describe a feeling of astonishment that disrupts one's composure or thought process, making it a vivid expression of surprise in various contexts.
Strokes12Radical忄Frequency#54217DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing surprise or astonishment is often more subdued than in Western contexts, where overt reactions can be common. The use of 愕 might reflect a more restrained cultural response to shocking news.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person hearing a loud noise and jumping back in shock, their mouth forming an 'è' shape as they gasp in surprise. The radical 心 (heart) at the bottom suggests that this feeling is deeply felt, while the top components could resemble a person startled by something abrupt.
Meanings of 愕
è(e4)
1startled, alarmed, astonished
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 愕
愕Simplified
12Strokes
忄Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 愕
Podcast: 愕
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AI Study Notes for 愕
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person hearing a loud noise and jumping back in shock, their mouth forming an 'è' shape as they gasp in surprise. The radical 心 (heart) at the bottom suggests that this feeling is deeply felt, while the top components could resemble a person startled by something abrupt.
Usage Notes
This character is more formal and literary, so it might not be commonly used in casual conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and watch out for pronunciation, especially the falling tone in 'è'. Common collocations include 愕然 (è rán), meaning 'to be astonished'.
HSK Study Tips
Though not an HSK level word, students at the intermediate level should focus on recognizing 愕 in written texts. Understanding it can enhance vocabulary related to emotions and reactions, connecting to other words like 惊 (jīng, surprise) and 震惊 (zhèn jīng, shock).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing surprise or astonishment is often more subdued than in Western contexts, where overt reactions can be common. The use of 愕 might reflect a more restrained cultural response to shocking news.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 愕 with 亢 (kàng), which means 'arrogant' or 'high', due to similar pronunciation. Remember that 愕 specifically relates to feelings of shock and surprise, while 亢 does not.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 愕
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Grammar Patterns of 愕
愕 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我惊____万分，不知说什么好。
I feel simply too devastated for words.
Example Sentences for 愕 (7)
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1
我惊愕万分，不知说什么好。
wǒ jīng è wàn fēn， ， bù zhī shuō shí mó。
I feel simply too devastated for words.
2
从那个屏幕上看到我的脸，真让人惊愕不已。
cóng nà gè píng mù shàng kàn dào wǒ de liǎn， ， zhēn ràng rén jīng è bù。
It was quite a shock to see my face on that screen!
She is amazed that people still risk travelling without insurance.
4
他对年轻人的玩世不恭感到惊愕。
tā duì nián qīng rén de wán shì bù gōng gǎn dào jīng è。
He was dismayed at the cynicism of the youngsters.
5
在网球赛中,我竟被一位70高龄的老人击败,请想像一下我当时的惊愕状态.
zài wǎng qiú sài zhōng, , wǒ jìng bèi yī70 wèi 70 gāo líng de lǎo rén, jī bài , qǐng xiǎng xiàng yī xià wǒ dāng shí de jīng.
Imagine my amazement when a 70 - year - old man beat me at tennis.
6
冯云卿 转过脸来,愕然睁大了眼睛.
féng yún qīng zhuǎn guò liǎn, lái , è rán zhēng dà le.
Feng Yun - ching turned round and looked at her wide - eyed.
7
他惊愕地盯着自己最宠爱的孩子，满心恐惧。
tā jīng è dì dīng zháo zì jǐ zuì chǒng ài de hái zǐ， ， mǎn xīn kǒng。
He stared at his favourite child, dismayed, filled with fear.
Cultural Notes for 愕
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing surprise or astonishment is often more subdued than in Western contexts, where overt reactions can be common. The use of 愕 might reflect a more restrained cultural response to shocking news.
Word Family of 愕
Words Containing This Character3
惊愕to stun驚愕
愕èstartled
愕然stunned
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 惊愕 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 愕
You can use it in phrases like '他感到非常愕然' (Tā gǎndào fēicháng è rán) which means 'He was very astonished.'
It's more commonly found in literary works or formal writing rather than in casual speech.
Synonyms include 惊讶 (jīng yà, surprised) and 震惊 (zhèn jīng, shocked).
