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惊叹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
惊叹jīngtànto exclaim in admirationHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #9388, Very Hard
惊叹jīngtàna gasp of surpriseHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #9388, Very Hard
jīngtàn(jing1tan4)jing tan T1
  1. 1to exclaim in admiration
  2. 2a gasp of surprise
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March 24, 2026

惊叹(驚嘆)jīngtàn(jing1tan4)

惊叹 refers to the act of expressing admiration or surprise, often in response to something impressive or unexpected. It is commonly used in contexts where one is overwhelmed by beauty, skill, or remarkable events, conveying a sense of awe.

Strokes16Frequency#9388DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, expressing admiration openly can be seen as a way to build relationships and show respect for others' talents or achievements. This aligns with the value placed on humility and acknowledgment in social interactions.

Memory tip

Imagine a person gasping (惊) in surprise at a stunning sight and then exclaiming, 'Wow!' (叹) in admiration. The radicals suggest a sudden reaction (惊) and a heartfelt expression (叹) of wonder.

Meanings of 惊叹

jīngtàn(jing1tan4)
1to exclaim in admiration
2a gasp of surprise
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About 惊叹

惊叹Simplified
驚嘆Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 惊叹

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AI study notes for 惊叹

Quick Contrast

惊讶 (jīngyà) - use 惊叹 when expressing admiration or awe, while 惊讶 focuses more on surprise without the connotation of admiration.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when using 惊叹; the first syllable (jing1) should be pronounced with a high level tone, while the second syllable (tan4) has a falling tone. This word is generally used in more formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

While not currently an HSK vocabulary word, 惊叹 relates to expressions of emotion, common in HSK levels 4 and above. Focus on using it in sentences that convey admiration or surprise to enhance expressive skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 惊叹 with 赞叹 (zan4 tan4), which specifically means to praise. For instance, saying '我对他的表演惊叹' (I am amazed at his performance) is correct, but saying '我对他的表演赞叹' (I am surprised at his performance) may not convey the same intensity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 惊叹

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Component characters

惊jīngto start
HSK 711 strokes忄
View full entry
叹tànto sigh
5 strokes口
View full entry

How to say to exclaim in admiration in Chinese

“to exclaim in admiration” in Chinese is惊叹jīngtàn

惊叹 refers to the act of expressing admiration or surprise, often in response to something impressive or unexpected. It is commonly used in contexts where one is overwhelmed by beauty, skill, or remarkable events, conveying a sense of awe.

When to use 惊叹

Be mindful of the tone when using 惊叹; the first syllable (jing1) should be pronounced with a high level tone, while the second syllable (tan4) has a falling tone. This word is generally used in more formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversation.

惊叹 or something close to it

惊讶 (jīngyà) - use 惊叹 when expressing admiration or awe, while 惊讶 focuses more on surprise without the connotation of admiration.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 惊叹 with 赞叹 (zan4 tan4), which specifically means to praise. For instance, saying '我对他的表演惊叹' (I am amazed at his performance) is correct, but saying '我对他的表演赞叹' (I am surprised at his performance) may not convey the same intensity.

Write 惊叹

惊
叹

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Frequently asked questions about 惊叹

While it can be used in casual settings, it is more appropriate for formal contexts or when expressing genuine admiration.

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