rợn người
Definition
- Adjective:
- To be hair-raising / to be spine-chilling: Describes a feeling of sudden, intense fear or horror that causes a physical shudder or makes one's hair stand on end. It refers to a sensation that is deeply frightening or shocking.
- To be terrifying / to be horrifying: Describes something that causes extreme fear or dread, often to the point of making one feel physically unsettled or frightened.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Câu chuyện ma đó nghe thật rợn người. (That ghost story sounds truly spine-chilling.)
- Cảnh tượng trong phim khiến tôi rợn người. (The scene in the movie made my hair stand on end.)
- Tiếng hú trong đêm nghe rợn người. (The howl in the night sounds terrifying.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used to describe an immediate, visceral reaction to something frightening, whether it is a story, a sound, a sight, or a memory. It emphasizes the physical component of fear.
Variants and Related Words
- Rùng mình (v): to shudder, to shiver (often from cold or fear). While similar, "rùng mình" can be from cold or a lesser fright, whereas "rợn người" implies stronger, more horrifying fear.
- Tiếng động lạ làm cô ấy rùng mình. (The strange noise made her shudder.)
Synonyms
- Hair-raising: causing great fear or horror.
- Spine-chilling: frightening in a way that makes one feel a chill along the spine.
- Terrifying: causing extreme fear.
Related Idioms
Nổi da gà: to get goosebumps. This describes a similar physical reaction but can be caused by fear, cold, or strong emotion.
- Nghe nhạc hay, tôi nổi da gà. (Listening to good music, I get goosebumps.)
Sợ hãi tột độ: to be extremely frightened. This is a more direct description of the emotional state rather than the physical sensation.
- Họ cảm thấy sợ hãi tột độ. (They felt extreme fear.)