Definition

1. 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.)