驚 meaning and stroke order
To frighten, to startle; surprise, alarm
How to write 驚, stroke by stroke
23 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 驚
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to startle
- to be frightened
- to be scared
- alarm
How 驚 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Horse.
馬 gives the meaning and 敬 hints at the sound.
Radical: 馬 (horse), shared by 47 characters on this site.
How to remember 驚
驚 is 敬 (jìng) sitting on top of 馬 (horse). A horse is easily startled, so picture a horse rearing up in alarm, while 敬 on top gives the sound jīng.
驚 is the traditional form, and in simplified Chinese it is written 惊. It rarely stands alone in speech and mostly appears in words like 吃惊 (chījīng) and 惊喜 (jīngxǐ). Example: 他听到消息很吃惊。(Tā tīngdào xiāoxi hěn chījīng.) He was very surprised to hear the news.
Common mistake: Learners often read 驚 as jìng because the top part 敬 is fourth tone, but 驚 is first tone, jīng. Also do not confuse it with 警 (jǐng, to warn), which has the same 敬 top but 言 (speech) underneath.
Common words with 驚
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 吃驚 | chījīng | to be startled; to be shocked | HSK 4 |
| 震驚 | zhènjīng | to shock; to astonish | HSK 5 |
| 驚喜 | jīngxǐ | nice surprise; to be pleasantly surprised | HSK 6 |
| 驚人 | jīngrén | astonishing | HSK 6 |
| 驚訝 | jīngyà | amazed; astonished | HSK 7-9 |
| 驚奇 | jīngqí | to be amazed; to be surprised | HSK 7-9 |
| 驚慌 | jīnghuāng | to panic; to be alarmed | HSK 7-9 |
| 大驚小怪 | dàjīng-xiǎoguài | to make a fuss about nothing (idiom) | HSK 7-9 |
| 大吃一驚 | dàchī-yījīng | (idiom) astounded; flabbergasted; taken aback | HSK 7-9 |
| 受驚 | shòujīng | startled | HSK 7-9 |
| 驚醒 | jīngxǐng | to rouse; to be woken by sth | HSK 7-9 |
| 驚慌失措 | jīnghuāng-shīcuò | to lose one's head out of fear (idiom) | HSK 7-9 |
| 驚險 | jīngxiǎn | perilous; touch-and-go; nerve-racking; suspenseful | HSK 7-9 |
| 驚嘆 | jīngtàn | to exclaim in admiration; a gasp of surprise | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 驚
How many strokes are in 驚?
驚 is written with 23 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 驚 mean?
驚 (jīng) means to frighten, to startle; surprise, alarm. A common word with it is 吃惊 (chījīng), meaning "to be startled; to be shocked".
How do you pronounce 驚?
驚 is pronounced jīng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 驚?
The radical of 驚 is 馬, which carries the idea of "horse". Dictionaries list 驚 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 驚?
驚 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 惊, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 吃惊 and 惊喜?
吃惊 (chījīng) is a neutral surprise or shock and can be good or bad. 惊喜 (jīngxǐ) is specifically a pleasant surprise, like a gift or good news.
Does 大惊小怪 mean someone is very scared?
No. 大惊小怪 (dàjīng-xiǎoguài) means making a big fuss over something small. You might say 别大惊小怪 (bié dàjīng-xiǎoguài), meaning don't overreact.