悚

sǒng
忄 + 束

Definitions

sǒng frightened

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 忄 represents the meaning and 束 represents the sound.

Semantic: 忄 Phonetic: 束

About

悚 is a phono-semantic compound combining 忄 (the heart radical, a reduced form of 心) and 束. The heart radical situates the character in the realm of emotions and mental states, while 束 provides the sound. The independent meaning of 束 is "to bind", but here it is used solely for its pronunciation. The character denotes a sudden, overwhelming fear: being terrified, horror-struck, or seized by acute dread. This kind of terror is often accompanied by a physical sensation of constriction, as if the chest tightens and the body freezes, a reaction that vividly matches the emotional intensity the word conveys.

Example Sentences Hide

这部电影非常惊悚。

Zhè bù diànyǐng fēicháng jīngsǒng.

This movie is very thrilling.

她听到后感到悚然。

Tā tīng dào hòu gǎndào sǒngrán.

She felt terrified after hearing it.

黑暗中那景象令人悚惧。

Hēi'àn zhōng nà jǐngxiàng lìng rén sǒngjù.

In the darkness, that scene makes people fearful.

他讲述的故事十分悚人。

Tā jiǎngshù de gùshi shífēn sǒng rén.

The story he told is very frightening.

小说里的描写让人悚栗。

Xiǎoshuō lǐ de miáoxiě ràng rén sǒnglì.

The descriptions in the novel make people tremble with fear.

回忆起那次经历，他依然悚然。

Huíyì qǐ nà cì jīnglì, tā yīrán sǒngrán.

Recalling that experience, he is still terrified.

这种悚然的氛围笼罩着整个房间。

Zhè zhǒng sǒngrán de fēnwéi lǒngzhào zhe zhěnggè fángjiān.

This terrifying atmosphere envelops the entire room.

突如其来的事件使大家悚惕起来，不敢松懈。

Tūrú qílái de shìjiàn shǐ dàjiā sǒngtì qǐlái, bù gǎn sōngxiè.

The sudden incident made everyone alarmed and vigilant, not daring to relax.

Related Characters

Component: 忄

情 性 快 怕 惊 怀 怪 慢 忙 懂 惯 恨 恰 忆

Component: 束

速 束 赖 辣 敕 剌 竦 涑 觫 賴 餗 脨 辢 綀

Example Words

惊悚 毛骨悚然 悚然