The word 惊吓 is formed by combining two characters, each conveying a similar sense of alarm or fear. The first character, 惊 (jīng), carries the core meaning of a sudden inner shock or startle, like being jolted by surprise. The second character, 吓 (xià), refers more to the external act of being frightened or intimidated by something. When placed together, they create a compound that blends the internal feeling of being startled with the external cause of being scared, resulting in a unified concept meaning "to frighten" or "to be alarmed", emphasizing both the cause and the visceral reaction.