kinh hoảng
Definition
- Adjective:
- Terrified, horrified, panic-stricken: A state of extreme fear, shock, or terror, often causing a temporary loss of calm or the ability to think clearly. It describes a deep, overwhelming fright.
- Horrific, terrifying: Used to describe something that causes such extreme fear.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Người dân kinh hoảng chạy ra khỏi tòa nhà khi nghe thấy tiếng nổ. (The residents ran out of the building in panic when they heard the explosion.)
- Cô ấy có một ký ức kinh hoảng về vụ tai nạn. (She has a horrific memory of the accident.)
- Tin tức về thảm họa khiến mọi người kinh hoảng. (The news of the disaster left people horrified.)
Advanced Usage
- "Sự kinh hoảng" (Noun): The state or feeling of being terrified; horror, panic.
- Sự kinh hoảng bao trùm cả thành phố. (Panic enveloped the entire city.)
- "Làm kinh hoảng" (Verb phrase): To horrify, to terrify.
- Cảnh tượng đó làm kinh hoảng tất cả những người chứng kiến. (That scene horrified all the witnesses.)
Variants and Related Words
- Kinh hoàng: This is the more common and standard variant with the same meaning (terrified, horrific). "Kinh hoảng" is often considered a stylistic or phonetic variation.
- Kinh sợ: To fear, to be afraid (generally a stronger and more formal term for fear than "sợ").
- Hoảng loạn: To panic, to be in a state of chaos and fear.
- Hoảng sợ: To be frightened, to be scared (combining surprise/fright with fear).
Synonyms
- Khiếp sợ: To be terrified, to dread.
- Khiếp đảm: To be extremely terrified (stronger).
- Sợ hãi tột độ: To be extremely frightened.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Hoảng lên: To suddenly become panicked/frightened.
- Cô ấy hoảng lên khi thấy con rắn. (She panicked when she saw the snake.)
Related Idioms
- Mặt mày kinh hoảng: To have a face showing utter horror/panic.
- Nó chạy vào với mặt mày kinh hoảng. (He ran in with a face full of terror.)
- Kinh hồn bạt vía: To be scared out of one's wits; to be utterly terrified (idiomatic, very strong).
- Câu chuyện ma đó khiến lũ trẻ kinh hồn bạt vía. (That ghost story scared the children out of their wits.)