Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
惊慌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
惊慌jīnghuāngto panicHSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, rank #6686, Very Hard
惊慌jīnghuāngto be alarmedHSK 7, unknown, 23 strokes, rank #6686, Very Hard
jīnghuāng(jing1huang1)jing huang T1
  1. 1to panic
  2. 2to be alarmed
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

惊慌(驚慌)jīnghuāng(jing1huang1)

惊慌 (jīng huāng) means to panic or to be alarmed, often in response to sudden fear or an unexpected situation. It is commonly used to describe a state of anxiety or distress when facing an alarming circumstance, such as an accident or an urgent problem.

Strokes23Frequency#6686DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of panic often ties into the value placed on maintaining calm and composure in stressful situations. This can be seen in traditional teachings that emphasize the importance of staying level-headed.

Memory tip

Imagine a person who is so shocked that they jump out of their shoes, literally 'panicking' at the sight of something unexpected. The character 惊 (jīng) looks like a person 'jumping' from surprise, while 慌 (huāng) sounds like 'hang,' suggesting losing control in a panic.

Meanings of 惊慌

jīnghuāng(jing1huang1)
1to panic
2to be alarmed
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 惊慌 means.

About 惊慌

惊慌Simplified
驚慌Traditional
23Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 惊慌

JasonAmy

Podcast: 惊慌

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 惊慌

Quick Contrast

惊恐 (jīngkǒng) - use 惊慌 when describing a more general state of panic, while 惊恐 implies a more intense or severe fear.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 惊慌 with similar words like 紧张 (jǐn zhāng), which means to be nervous rather than panicked. This term is generally informal and may not be suitable for all contexts, especially formal writing. Common collocations include 惊慌失措 (jīng huāng shī cuò), meaning to be flustered.

HSK Study Tips

For HSK learners, focus on recognizing the components of the characters. 惊 is related to feeling shocked, while 慌 suggests chaos or confusion. This word may appear in HSK 6, connecting to themes of emotional states and reactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 惊慌 with 震惊 (zhèn jīng), which means to be shocked but not panicked. For example, saying '我很震惊' (I am very panicked) is incorrect; it should be '我很惊慌'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 惊慌

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 惊慌, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 惊慌 to you

Let me explain 惊慌 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 惊慌 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 惊慌?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 惊慌 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

惊jīngto start
HSK 711 strokes忄
View full entry
慌huāngto get panicky
HSK 712 strokes忄
View full entry

How to say to panic in Chinese

“to panic” in Chinese is惊慌jīnghuāng

惊慌 (jīng huāng) means to panic or to be alarmed, often in response to sudden fear or an unexpected situation. It is commonly used to describe a state of anxiety or distress when facing an alarming circumstance, such as an accident or an urgent problem.

When to use 惊慌

Be careful not to confuse 惊慌 with similar words like 紧张 (jǐn zhāng), which means to be nervous rather than panicked. This term is generally informal and may not be suitable for all contexts, especially formal writing. Common collocations include 惊慌失措 (jīng huāng shī cuò), meaning to be flustered.

惊慌 or something close to it

惊恐 (jīngkǒng) - use 惊慌 when describing a more general state of panic, while 惊恐 implies a more intense or severe fear.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 惊慌 with 震惊 (zhèn jīng), which means to be shocked but not panicked. For example, saying '我很震惊' (I am very panicked) is incorrect; it should be '我很惊慌'.

Write 惊慌

惊
慌

Practice writing 惊慌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 惊慌?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Cultural Notes for 惊慌

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, panic may often be viewed as a natural, albeit negative, emotional response, while in Chinese culture, it can carry a stigma of loss of face for not maintaining control.

Frequently asked questions about 惊慌

You can say, '他看到那只蛇时感到惊慌' (He felt panic when he saw the snake).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 惊慌?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab