Meanings of 吓唬
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Podcast: 吓唬
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AI study notes for 吓唬
吓 (xià, to frighten) vs 威胁 (wēixié, to threaten) — use 吓唬 when the intent is to scare or surprise playfully, not to imply a serious threat.
Be careful not to confuse 吓唬 with 吓人 (xià rén), which specifically means 'to scare people'. This word is generally informal, so avoid using it in very formal settings. Common collocations include 吓唬人 (xià hu rèn - scare people) and 吓唬孩子 (xià hu hái zi - scare children).
While 吓唬 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above who are expanding their vocabulary related to emotions and interactions. Focus on pronunciation and usage in dialogue to understand its nuanced meanings.
Learners often mistakenly use 吓唬 to mean 'to scare someone off', which is incorrect. Instead, they should use 吓走 (xià zǒu) for that meaning.
Pronunciation of 吓唬
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Component characters
How to say to scare in Chinese
“to scare” in Chinese is吓唬
吓唬 means 'to scare' or 'to frighten' someone, often used in contexts where someone is trying to intimidate or surprise another person. This word can be used in both serious and playful contexts, depending on the intent of the speaker.
When to use 吓唬
Be careful not to confuse 吓唬 with 吓人 (xià rén), which specifically means 'to scare people'. This word is generally informal, so avoid using it in very formal settings. Common collocations include 吓唬人 (xià hu rèn - scare people) and 吓唬孩子 (xià hu hái zi - scare children).
吓唬 or something close to it
吓 (xià, to frighten) vs 威胁 (wēixié, to threaten) — use 吓唬 when the intent is to scare or surprise playfully, not to imply a serious threat.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 吓唬 to mean 'to scare someone off', which is incorrect. Instead, they should use 吓走 (xià zǒu) for that meaning.
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Cultural Notes for 吓唬
In Western cultures, scaring someone is often associated with Halloween or pranks, while in Chinese culture, it can also involve ghost stories and folklore, which can carry deeper cultural significance.
Frequently asked questions about 吓唬
No, 吓唬 is generally used in informal speech and may not be appropriate in formal writing.
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