About
讶 (simplified) / 訝 (traditional) is a phono-semantic compound. Its left component, the semantic radical 讠 (yán, speech), connects it to verbal communication, while the right component 牙 (yá, tooth) provides the phonetic sound. Originally, the character described actions like going out to meet or welcome someone, often with verbal greetings. Over time, its meaning shifted entirely to express astonishment or shock, a state typically voiced through exclamations. The simplification process condensed the speech radical from 言 to 讠, while its core sense evolved from a physical greeting to the psychological state of surprise and its verbal expression.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我对这个决定很惊讶。
她脸上露出惊讶的表情。
孩子们对魔术表演感到讶异。
听到他突然辞职，大家都很惊讶。
我毫不惊讶他会成功。
你为什么对此事感到讶异？
尽管事先有准备，我们还是讶异于他的速度。
令人讶异的是，这个方案竟然获得了全票通过。