Meanings of 吓
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About 吓
Podcast: 吓
Podcast: 吓
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AI Study Notes for 吓
吓 (hè) vs 惊 (jīng) — use 吓 when the focus is on causing fear in someone, while 惊 emphasizes the feeling of surprise or shock itself.
Imagine a person who is so scared that they let out a 'huh!' sound. The character 吓 has the radical for 'mouth' (口) on the left, suggesting the act of expressing fear, while the right side resembles a person being startled. Visualize a scary ghost that makes you 'hè' in fright.
Learners often confuse 吓 with similar characters like 恐 (kǒng) which means fear or terror. Remember that 吓 is more about the act of frightening someone rather than the feeling of fear itself. It’s used in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious with tone, as the fourth tone can change the meaning.
As an HSK Level 5 word, 吓 connects to other vocabulary related to emotions and reactions, such as 怕 (pà, to be afraid) and 恐惧 (kǒngjù, fear). Students should focus on using 吓 in sentences that describe experiences of fear or surprising situations to gain fluency.
In traditional Chinese culture, ghost stories are popular, especially during festivals like the Hungry Ghost Festival, where the concept of scaring or being scared has deep roots. The character 吓 reflects this cultural practice, as it is often used in tales of fright.
Learners often misuse 吓 by confusing it with the verb 'to fear' (怕, pà). For example, saying '我吓这个电影' (Wǒ hè zhège diànyǐng) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我怕这个电影' (Wǒ pà zhège diànyǐng), meaning 'I am afraid of this movie.'
Pronunciation of 吓
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Etymology of 吓
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 下 represents the sound. Simplified form of 嚇.
mouth
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 吓?
Decomposition of 吓
Identify the Components
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Write 吓
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Practice writing 吓 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 吓
吓 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 6 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.
Complete the Sentence
不看不知道，一看____一跳，这里变化太大了！
I had no idea until I looked — and when I looked, I was shocked! The changes here are enormous!
Common Confusions with 吓
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to scare"?
Usage Notes for 吓
The verb 吓 is often used in contexts involving fear or intimidation. It can be used both transitively and intransitively.
他吓了我一跳。
He scared me.
这个电影很吓人。
This movie is very scary.
Fill in the Blank
他____了我一跳。
He scared me.
Example Sentences for 吓 (10)
Cultural Notes for 吓
In traditional Chinese culture, ghost stories are popular, especially during festivals like the Hungry Ghost Festival, where the concept of scaring or being scared has deep roots. The character 吓 reflects this cultural practice, as it is often used in tales of fright.
Word Family of 吓
Compound Meaning
What does 吓 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 吓
Some synonyms for 吓 include 威胁 (wēixié), which means 'to threaten,' and 恐吓 (kǒnghè), meaning 'to intimidate.' These words can be used in similar contexts where fear or intimidation is involved.