The Chinese word 惊叹 (jīngtàn) is a compound formed by combining two characters with related meanings: 惊 (jīng), meaning "to be surprised or startled", and 叹 (tàn), meaning "to sigh in admiration or praise". Together, they create a synergistic meaning where the sense of shock or wonder (惊) is channeled into an expressive outward reaction of awe and admiration (叹). Thus, the word signifies "to exclaim in amazement" or "to marvel at", describing a powerful emotional response to something extraordinarily impressive or astonishing. This formation follows a common pattern in Chinese where two verbs or adjectives are joined to express a more nuanced and intensified single concept.