About
The character "怖" is structured as a phono-semantic compound consisting of the heart radical 忄 and the phonetic component 布, which together associate the character with the emotional state of fear. Etymologically, it emerged in classical Chinese to express terror or dread, and its core meaning has focused on this concept throughout its historical usage. The character's composition has consistently relied on the heart radical to denote psychological affect and the phonetic element for pronunciation, with no major structural changes. In contemporary language, "怖" appears almost exclusively in compounds such as "恐怖" to convey intense fear.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这部电影很恐怖。
他感到非常恐怖。
恐怖故事让我睡不着。
听到那个消息，他恐怖极了。
那个场景可真可怖。
森林里的黑暗令人恐怖。
尽管他外表镇定，内心却充满恐怖。
对于未知的未来，人们往往会产生一种莫名的恐怖。