Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
讶(訝)yà(ya4)
The character 讶 (yà) means to be astounded, amazed, or surprised. It is often used to express a reaction of shock or disbelief in response to unexpected events or information. This character is commonly found in contexts where someone's expectations are dramatically altered.
Strokes6Radical讠Frequency#65858DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The character 讶 is often used in Chinese literature and media to depict characters who are shocked or surprised by events, reflecting the cultural appreciation for dramatic twists in storytelling.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person gasping in amazement upon hearing surprising news. The left part of the character, 讠, represents speech or words, while the right part, 吖, can remind you of a shocked expression. Together, they convey the idea of being astounded by what one hears.
Meanings of 讶
yà(ya4)
1astounded
2amazed, surprised; to express surprise
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 讶 means.
About 讶
讶Simplified
訝Traditional
6Strokes
讠Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 讶
Podcast: 讶
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 讶
Quick Contrast
惊 (jīng) vs 诧 (chà) — use 讶 (yà) for reactions of surprise specifically linked to astonishment, while 惊 (jīng) can imply a broader sense of shock, and 诧 (chà) emphasizes disbelief or confusion.
Usage Notes
讶 is often used in more formal contexts when expressing surprise, such as in written communication or speeches. Be careful not to confuse it with other surprise-related words like 惊 (jīng) which denotes shock or fright. Pay attention to the tone: it is pronounced with a falling tone (yà).
HSK Study Tips
Although 讶 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other HSK words that express emotions or reactions. Students should focus on recognizing it in context and understanding how it complements other expressions of surprise.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 讶 with 惊 (jīng), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我觉得这个很惊' instead of '我觉得这个很讶' is incorrect; the former implies shock rather than amazement.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 讶
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 讶 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 讶 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 讶?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 讶 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
讶 = 讠 + 牙. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 讶
IDS Structure⿰讠牙
讶Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
牙ya2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 讶?
How to say astounded in Chinese
“astounded” in Chinese is讶yà
The character 讶 (yà) means to be astounded, amazed, or surprised. It is often used to express a reaction of shock or disbelief in response to unexpected events or information. This character is commonly found in contexts where someone's expectations are dramatically altered.
When to use 讶
讶 is often used in more formal contexts when expressing surprise, such as in written communication or speeches. Be careful not to confuse it with other surprise-related words like 惊 (jīng) which denotes shock or fright. Pay attention to the tone: it is pronounced with a falling tone (yà).
讶 or something close to it
惊 (jīng) vs 诧 (chà) — use 讶 (yà) for reactions of surprise specifically linked to astonishment, while 惊 (jīng) can imply a broader sense of shock, and 诧 (chà) emphasizes disbelief or confusion.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 讶 with 惊 (jīng), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我觉得这个很惊' instead of '我觉得这个很讶' is incorrect; the former implies shock rather than amazement.
Write 讶
讶
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 讶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 讶
讶 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她在挑逗我，这让我感到既惊____又受宠若惊。
She was hitting on me and I was surprised and flattered.
