Definitions

huáng (adjective) frightened; afraid; anxious

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "惶", denoting fear or anxiety, is structurally composed of the heart radical (忄) to signify its emotional domain and the component 皇 acting as a phonetic guide, following the standard semantic-phonetic model of Chinese character construction. Etymologically, this combination anchors the character firmly in the sphere of psychological states, with the phonetic element contributing sound rather than meaning. Historically, its usage in classical texts conveyed a range of agitated emotions from alarm to panic, but over centuries its semantic application has narrowed to emphasize a more sustained or diffuse anxiety, often reflected in compound terms that specify nuances of dread. Throughout this semantic refinement, the character's physical form has remained consistent, with its visual structure continuously reinforcing the conceptual link between the heart radical and internal distress.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我感到有些恐。

Wǒ gǎndào yǒuxiē huángkǒng.

I feel somewhat panicked.

他脸上露出恐的表情。

Tā liǎnshang lùchū huángkǒng de biǎoqíng.

His face shows a panicked expression.

孩子们惑地看着大人。

Háizimen huánghuò de kànzhe dàrén.

The children look at the adults with perplexity and alarm.

地震后,人们不安。

Dìzhèn hòu, rénmen huánghuáng bù'ān.

After the earthquake, people are anxious and uneasy.

这种不确定性令人惧。

Zhè zhǒng bù quèdìngxìng lìng rén huángjù.

This kind of uncertainty makes people fearful.

急地寻找丢失的文件。

Tā huángjí de xúnzhǎo diūshī de wénjiàn.

He urgently and anxiously searches for the lost document.

在陌生的环境中,她感到然无助。

Zài mòshēng de huánjìng zhōng, tā gǎndào huángrán wúzhù.

In an unfamiliar environment, she feels panicked and helpless.

面对突如其来的变故,他内心充满惑与迷茫。

Miànduì túrúqílái de biàngù, tā nèixīn chōngmǎn huánghuò yǔ mímáng.

Facing the sudden change, his heart is full of perplexity and confusion.