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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 讶
讶Simplified
訝Traditional
6Strokes
讠Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 讶
Podcast: 讶
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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
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Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 牙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 訝.
1The meaning half讠 carries the sense.
2The sound half牙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayspeech
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 讶? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 讶?
Decomposition of 讶
IDS Structure⿰讠牙
讶Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
牙ya2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
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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
Complete the Sentence
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.
