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震惊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
震惊
zhènjīng
to shock
HSK 7, v, 26 strokes, rank #2915, Very Hard
震惊
zhènjīng
to astonish
HSK 7, v, 26 strokes, rank #2915, Very Hard
zhènjīng(zhen4jing1)zhen jing T4
1to shock
2to astonish
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March 24, 2026
震惊(震驚)zhènjīng(zhen4jing1)
震惊 (zhèn jīng) means to shock or astonish someone, often in response to unexpected news or events. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, typically when expressing strong feelings of surprise or disbelief.
Strokes26Frequency#2915DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
震惊 often appears in media reports about scandals or disasters in China, reflecting the society's sensitivity to shocking events. This word captures the collective emotional response to such occurrences.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant drum (震) being struck so hard that it echoes (惊) through the mountains, shocking everyone who hears it. The sound is so powerful that it leaves people astonished, just as the word suggests.
Meanings of 震惊
zhènjīng(zhen4jing1)
1to shock
2to astonish
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 震惊
震惊Simplified
震驚Traditional
26Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2915Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 震惊
Podcast: 震惊
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AI study notes for 震惊
Quick Contrast
震惊 (zhèn jīng) vs 惊讶 (jīng yà) — use 震惊 for a stronger, more intense shock, while 惊讶 conveys a milder surprise.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when using 震惊; the fourth tone (震) must be pronounced clearly to convey the proper meaning. It is often used in news reports and discussions about surprising events. Common collocations include '震惊的消息' (shocking news) and '震惊的事件' (astonishing event).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 震惊 connects well with other advanced vocabulary describing emotions and reactions. Students should practice using it in different contexts, such as expressing personal reactions or discussing newsworthy events.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse it with 吃惊 (chī jīng), which is more casual. For example, saying '我吃惊这个消息' should be corrected to '我对这个消息感到震惊'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 震惊
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震惊 (zhèn jīng) means to shock or astonish someone, often in response to unexpected news or events. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, typically when expressing strong feelings of surprise or disbelief.
When to use 震惊
Be cautious with the tone when using 震惊; the fourth tone (震) must be pronounced clearly to convey the proper meaning. It is often used in news reports and discussions about surprising events. Common collocations include '震惊的消息' (shocking news) and '震惊的事件' (astonishing event).
震惊 or something close to it
震惊 (zhèn jīng) vs 惊讶 (jīng yà) — use 震惊 for a stronger, more intense shock, while 惊讶 conveys a milder surprise.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse it with 吃惊 (chī jīng), which is more casual. For example, saying '我吃惊这个消息' should be corrected to '我对这个消息感到震惊'.
Write 震惊
震
惊
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Grammar patterns of 震惊
震惊 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.
真相的披露让我深感____，我被带回了现实。
I was shocked, brought down to earth by this revelation.
Example sentences for 震惊 (16)
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1
真相的披露让我深感震惊，我被带回了现实。
zhēnxiàng de pīlù ràng wǒ shēn gǎn zhènjīng， wǒ bèi dài huí le xiànshí。
I was shocked, brought down to earth by this revelation.
2
这一起对毫无防御能力的孕妇的袭击，令人无比震惊。
zhè yìqǐ duì háowú fángyù nénglì de yùnfù de xíjī， lìng rén wúbǐ zhènjīng。
This was a sickening attack on a pregnant and defenceless woman.
The annual slaughter of wildlife in Italy is horrific.
6
种族罪案的侦破率之低让人震惊。
zhǒngzú zuì àn de zhēn pò lǜ zhī dī ràng rén zhènjīng。
The detection rate for racial crimes is appallingly low.
7
那部纪录片使我大为震惊。
nà bù jìlùpiàn shǐ wǒ dàwéi zhènjīng。
The documentary left me in a state of shock.
8
听到那条消息，街上所有的人都震惊了。
tīngdào nà tiáo xiāoxi， jiē shàng suǒyǒu de rén dōu zhènjīng le。
Everyone in the street was shocked when they heard the news.
9
她那袭大胆的低胸裙使观众大为震惊。
tā nà xí dàdǎn de dī xiōng qún shǐ guānzhòng dàwéi zhènjīng。
Her daringly low-cut dress scandalised audiences.
10
我得说那也让我相当震惊。
wǒ de shuō nà yě ràng wǒ xiāngdāng zhènjīng。
I must say that rather shocked me, too.
11
新闻报道中提到的腐败案件数量之多，实在令人震惊。
xīnwén bàodào zhōng tí dào de fǔbài ànjiàn shùliàng zhī duō, shízài lìngrén zhènjīng.
The number of corruption cases mentioned in the news report is truly shocking.
12
科学家们的最新发现震惊了整个科学界。
kēxuéjiāmen de zuìxīn fāxiàn zhènjīng le zhěnggè kēxuéjiè.
The latest discovery by scientists shocked the entire scientific community.
13
这场突如其来的地震让整个城市的居民感到震惊。
Zhè chǎng tūrúqílái de dìzhèn ràng zhěnggè chéngshì de jūmín gǎndào zhènjīng.
The sudden earthquake shocked all the residents of the city.
14
他的无礼行为在会议上震惊了所有的与会者。
Tā de wúlǐ xíngwéi zài huìyì shàng zhènjīng le suǒyǒu de yùhuìzhě.
His rude behavior at the meeting shocked all the attendees.
15
公司突然宣布破产的消息令员工们震惊不已。
Gōngsī tūrán xuānbù pòchǎn de xiāoxi lìng yuángōngmen zhènjīng bùyǐ.
The sudden announcement of the company's bankruptcy deeply shocked the employees.
16
她的演讲内容如此深刻，以至于震惊了在场的每一个人。
Tā de yǎnjiǎng nèiróng rúcǐ shēnkè, yǐzhì yú zhènjīng le zàichǎng de měi yīgè rén.
Her speech was so profound that it shocked everyone present.
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Cultural Notes for 震惊
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the expression of shock may be more subdued, while in Chinese culture, it can be more openly discussed, especially in public forums.
Frequently asked questions about 震惊
You could say, '我对这个消息感到震惊' (I was shocked by this news).
While often used for negative surprises, it can also express astonishment at positive news.
Yes, 震惊 is appropriate in formal contexts, especially in written reports or news articles.
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