骇

駭

hài

亥 + 马

Definitions

hài to astonish; to startle; to hack (computing, loanword)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 亥 represents the sound. Simplified form of 駭.

Semantic: 马 Phonetic: 亥

About

骇 is the simplified form of 駭, a phonosemantic compound. The simplified horse radical 马 on the left conveys the core meaning, while the phonetic component 亥 on the right indicates the sound. In its earliest usage, it referred specifically to a horse being startled, panicked, or frightened by an unexpected stimulus. The meaning later broadened beyond equine behavior to describe human emotions of deep shock, terror, or astonishment, and it now commonly appears in compound terms for horror, astonishment, and intense fear.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这故事真骇人。

Zhè gùshi zhēn hài rén.

This story is really shocking.

他露出骇然的表情。

Tā lù chū hài rán de biǎoqíng.

He showed an astonished expression.

电影里的怪兽很骇人。

Diànyǐng lǐ de guàishòu hěn hài rén.

The monster in the movie is very frightening.

听到爆炸声，大家骇异不已。

Tīng dào bàozhà shēng, dàjiā hài yì bùyǐ.

Hearing the explosion, everyone was extremely shocked.

这场事故骇醒了沉睡的居民。

Zhè chǎng shìgù hài xǐng le chénshuì de jūmín.

This accident shocked the sleeping residents awake.

科学家们被这个发现骇住了。

Kēxuéjiā men bèi zhège fāxiàn hài zhù le.

The scientists were stunned by this discovery.

骇人的真相让所有人都沉默了。

Hài rén de zhēnxiàng ràng suǒyǒu rén dōu chénmò le.

The shocking truth made everyone fall silent.

即便是在噩梦中，她也未曾经历过如此骇人的情境。

Jíbiàn shì zài èmèng zhōng, tā yě wèi céng jīnglì guò rúcǐ hài rén de qíngjìng.

Even in nightmares, she had never experienced such a frightening situation.

Related Characters

Component: 亥

Component: 马

骇