Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Terrified, horrified: A state of extreme fear or horror, often causing shock or panic.
   • Appalled, aghast: A feeling of being deeply shocked and dismayed by something frightening or terrible.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cô ấy kinh hãi khi nhìn thấy con rắn. (She was terrified when she saw the snake.)
  • Người dân vô cùng kinh hãi trước sự tàn phá của cơn bão. (The people were utterly horrified by the storm's devastation.)
  • Tôi kinh hãi trước tin tức đó. (I was appalled by that news.)

Advanced Usage

• "Làm kinh hãi": to horrify, to terrify (someone).

  • Hành động của hắn làm mọi người kinh hãi. (His actions horrified everyone.)

• "Nỗi kinh hãi": (a feeling of) terror, horror.

  • Nỗi kinh hãi bao trùm cả thành phố. (Terror enveloped the entire city.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kinh sợ (adj, v): to fear, to be afraid; fearful. A close synonym, often used interchangeably with "kinh hãi" but sometimes denoting a slightly less intense fear.
• Kinh hoàng (adj): horrified, horrendous. Often used to describe the terrifying nature of an event itself.
  • một vụ tai nạn kinh hoàng (a horrendous accident)
• Kinh dị (adj): horrific, causing fear and disgust (often used for genres like horror movies).
  • phim kinh dị (horror film)

Synonyms

• Khiếp sợ: to be terrified, to dread.
• Sợ hãi: to be afraid, frightened (a more general term for fear).
• Hoảng sợ: to panic, to be frightened suddenly.

Related Phrases

• Kinh hồn bạt vía: (Idiom) scared out of one's wits; extremely frightened.
  • Âm thanh đó làm tôi kinh hồn bạt vía. (That sound scared me out of my wits.)

1. như kinh sợ