About
The character "骇" originates from a semantic-phonetic composition, combining the "horse" radical (马) with the component "亥" which primarily provides phonetic value but may also contribute a sense of disruption or suddenness. Its earliest core meaning was specifically that of a horse being startled or frightened, a concept directly illustrated by its pictorial element. Over time, this sense of alarm was abstracted and generalized to apply to people, broadening to signify the state of being shocked or terrified. In modern usage, while it retains this capacity to describe fear, it more commonly functions as a transitive verb meaning to startle or shock someone, and by further extension, it describes events or news that are shocking or astonishing in nature.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这故事真骇人。
他露出骇然的表情。
电影里的怪兽很骇人。
听到爆炸声，大家骇异不已。
这场事故骇醒了沉睡的居民。
科学家们被这个发现骇住了。
骇人的真相让所有人都沉默了。
即便是在噩梦中，她也未曾经历过如此骇人的情境。