Learn a Chinese Character - 惊

1. Character Basics

Radical: 忄/xīn (heart radical)

Stroke Count: 11

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jīng (first tone)

3. Meaning

To surprise, to shock, to startle

4. Common Words

• 惊讶 (jīng yà) - to be surprised, surprise
• 惊喜 (jīng xǐ) - pleasant surprise, delight
• 惊吓 (jīng xià) - to frighten, shock
• 惊醒 (jīng xǐng) - to wake up with a start
• 惊人 (jīng rén) - astonishing, amazing
• 惊心动魄 (jīng xīn dòng pò) - soul-stirring, thrilling

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Often used as a verb or adjective

Usage Patterns:

• 惊 + 人: 惊人的速度 (jīng rén de sù dù) - amazing speed
• 使/让 + 人 + 惊: 这个消息让人惊讶 (Zhège xiāoxi ràng rén jīngyà) - This news surprises people
• 惊 + 动词: 惊醒 (jīng xǐng) - to wake up with a start, 惊动 (jīng dòng) - to stir, to alarm
• 成语用法: 大惊小怪 (dà jīng xiǎo guài) - to make a fuss over nothing, 心惊肉跳 (xīn jīng ròu tiào) - to feel nervous and scared

Note: "惊" often expresses a sudden emotional reaction to unexpected events.

6. Cultural Background

Philosophical Perspective: In Chinese philosophy, maintaining composure (不惊不慌, bù jīng bù huāng) is valued as a virtue, especially in times of crisis.

Literary Expression: Chinese literature often uses "惊" to describe intense emotional reactions. For example, classical poetry may use phrases like "惊心动魄" (soul-stirring) to convey powerful experiences.

Cultural Idioms: Many idioms containing "惊" reflect cultural values. For instance, "处变不惊" (chǔ biàn bù jīng) means to remain calm in the face of change, which is highly regarded in Chinese culture.

Traditional Stories: Some traditional Chinese stories feature characters who demonstrate courage by not being easily frightened, emphasizing the importance of resilience.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Character Breakdown: "惊" is composed of "忄" (xīn, heart radical) on the left and "京" (jīng) on the right.

Visual Association: The left part "忄" indicates that this character is related to emotions or the heart. The right part "京" provides the pronunciation.

Mnemonic Device: Imagine something surprising happening in the "capital city" (京) that makes your "heart" (忄) race - that's the feeling of being "惊" (surprised).

Word Association: Connect "惊" with words like "惊讶" (jīng yà, surprised) or "惊喜" (jīng xǐ, pleasant surprise) to help remember its meaning related to sudden emotional reactions.