Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
诧异 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
诧异
chàyì
flabbergasted
HSK 7, a, 14 strokes, rank #23660, Very Hard
诧异
chàyì
astonished
HSK 7, a, 14 strokes, rank #23660, Very Hard
chàyì(cha4yi4)cha yi T4
1flabbergasted
2astonished
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
诧异(詫異)chàyì(cha4yi4)
The word 诧异 (chà yì) refers to a strong feeling of surprise or astonishment, often in response to unexpected news or events. It is commonly used in both written and spoken contexts to express disbelief or shock about a situation that is difficult to comprehend.
Strokes14Frequency#23660DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, expressing surprise or astonishment is often tied to social etiquette, where one might downplay their reactions in formal settings. However, in personal conversations, showing 诧异 can foster a sense of intimacy and shared experience.
Memory tip
Imagine a shocked cat (猫, māo) jumping in surprise when it sees something unusual. The 'cha' in 诧 (chà) sounds like 'shock' and the 'yi' in 义 (yì) can remind you of the word 'why,' as in 'why is this happening?' This visual of a cat reacting dramatically can help you remember the meaning.
Meanings of 诧异
chàyì(cha4yi4)
1flabbergasted
2astonished
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 诧异 means.
About 诧异
诧异Simplified
詫異Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#23660Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 诧异
Podcast: 诧异
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 诧异
Quick Contrast
惊讶 (jīngyà) - use 诧异 when the surprise is more about disbelief or something hard to understand, while 惊讶 is more general surprise.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include using 诧异 in overly formal contexts where simpler words like 惊讶 (jīng yà) might suffice. It is typically used in more literary or serious discussions rather than casual conversation. Be mindful of the tones to avoid confusion, as mispronouncing either character can change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 诧异 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to emotions and reactions, such as 惊讶 (jīng yà) and 震惊 (zhèn jīng). Focus on understanding its nuances in various contexts and practicing it in sentences to enhance your fluency.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 诧异 with similar words like 惊讶 (jīng yà). For example, saying "我对这个结果感到惊讶" (wǒ duì zhège jiéguǒ gǎndào jīng yà) is correct but may lack the intensity that 诧异 conveys. Instead, try using 诧异 to emphasize your astonishment.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 诧异
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 诧异, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards 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 诧异 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 诧异?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 诧异 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.
The word 诧异 (chà yì) refers to a strong feeling of surprise or astonishment, often in response to unexpected news or events. It is commonly used in both written and spoken contexts to express disbelief or shock about a situation that is difficult to comprehend.
When to use 诧异
Common mistakes include using 诧异 in overly formal contexts where simpler words like 惊讶 (jīng yà) might suffice. It is typically used in more literary or serious discussions rather than casual conversation. Be mindful of the tones to avoid confusion, as mispronouncing either character can change its meaning.
诧异 or something close to it
惊讶 (jīngyà) - use 诧异 when the surprise is more about disbelief or something hard to understand, while 惊讶 is more general surprise.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 诧异 with similar words like 惊讶 (jīng yà). For example, saying "我对这个结果感到惊讶" (wǒ duì zhège jiéguǒ gǎndào jīng yà) is correct but may lack the intensity that 诧异 conveys. Instead, try using 诧异 to emphasize your astonishment.
Write 诧异
诧
异
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 诧异 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 诧异
诧异 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. 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.
他说出那些令人____的话时，心里都在想些什么？
What was going through his mind when he spoke those amazing words?
