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March 24, 2026
駭hài(hai4)
The character 駭 (hài) means to terrify, shock, or frighten someone. It is often used in contexts involving fear or surprise, especially in literature or dramatic situations. For instance, you might use it to describe a startling event or a frightening story.
Strokes16Radical馬Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese horror literature and films, 駭 often describes the emotional response to supernatural events, reflecting cultural attitudes towards fear and the unknown. This character is frequently employed in ghost stories and folklore.
Memory Tip
Imagine a horse (馬, mǎ) running away from a terrifying sight. The radical for horse (馬) is part of 駭, leading you to connect the idea of a shocking experience with the image of a horse galloping in fear. The pronunciation 'hài' sounds like 'high,' as in a high level of fear.
Meanings of 駭
hài(hai4)
1to terrify, to shock, to frighten
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 駭
駭Simplified
16Strokes
馬Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 駭
Podcast: 駭
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AI Study Notes for 駭
Quick Contrast
惊 (jīng) — use 駭 (hài) when emphasizing a deeper sense of terror or shock, while 惊 (jīng) conveys a more general sense of surprise.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a horse (馬, mǎ) running away from a terrifying sight. The radical for horse (馬) is part of 駭, leading you to connect the idea of a shocking experience with the image of a horse galloping in fear. The pronunciation 'hài' sounds like 'high,' as in a high level of fear.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 駭 with similar-sounding words that indicate surprise but are less intense. It is more appropriate in formal or literary contexts. Common collocations include 駭人 (hàirén) meaning 'to terrify people' and 駭于 (hài yú) meaning 'to be shocked by'.
HSK Study Tips
Though 駭 is not included in HSK levels, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to emotions and reactions. Focus on understanding its usage in conjunction with words expressing fear or surprise, enhancing emotional vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese horror literature and films, 駭 often describes the emotional response to supernatural events, reflecting cultural attitudes towards fear and the unknown. This character is frequently employed in ghost stories and folklore.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 駭 with 驚 (jīng), which means to surprise but lacks the intense fear aspect. A common error is using 駭 to describe a pleasant surprise, which is incorrect. Instead, use surprised (惊讶, jīngyà).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 駭
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Cultural Notes for 駭
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese horror literature and films, 駭 often describes the emotional response to supernatural events, reflecting cultural attitudes towards fear and the unknown. This character is frequently employed in ghost stories and folklore.
Word Family of 駭
Words Containing This Character8
骇hàito astonish駭
骇人听闻hàiréntīngwénshocking駭人聽聞
惊骇to be shocked驚駭
惊世骇俗universally shocking驚世駭俗
骇然dumbstruck駭然
惊涛骇浪perilous situation驚濤駭浪
震骇to astonish震駭
骇怕to be afraid駭怕
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 骇 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 駭
It's not commonly used in daily conversation, but you might hear it in discussions about movies or books that are scary.
Generally, no. 駭 is used to describe negative feelings associated with fear or shock.
Synonyms include 惊吓 (jīngxià) which also means to scare, but 駭 implies a deeper level of terror.
