惊讶
jīngyà
The English word "surprised" is translated into Chinese as 惊讶 (jīngyà), the default form.
惊讶 is used to describe being caused to feel surprise, often carrying a sense of astonishment or amazement. The word 吃惊 is the most standard and widely used term for 'surprised' in Chinese.
Meaning: caused to feel surprise (adj)
Which one should you use?
While 惊讶 is a standard way to say surprised, 吃惊 is a common synonym that often implies a more sudden or startling sense of surprise.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
惊讶 is slightly more formal than 吃惊. For expressing mild surprise informally, you might use the exclamation 哇 (similar to "Wow") or the phrase 好意外 to convey a sense of surprise when encountering something unexpectedly.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the sensation of feeling surprised, you can use the phrase 感到惊讶 (gǎndào jīngyà).
How do you pronounce it?
jīngyà
Did you know?
- The character 惊 in 惊讶 contains the radical for 'horse' 马, reflecting an ancient time when a startled horse was the primary symbol of sudden alarm.
- The common term 吃惊 literally translates to 'eat surprise'.
- In Chinese culture, a 'surprised' reaction in a formal setting is often expressed through a subtle intake of breath or a slight widening of the eyes rather than an audible exclamation.
Examples in context
- 汤姆好像很惊讶。Tom seemed surprised.This sentence is useful for describing how someone appears to be feeling using 惊讶.Tatoeba #10457898 by GlossaMatik, translation #3203428 by CM
- 这回是轮到我惊讶了。Now it was my turn to be surprised.This sentence is useful for describing a turn of events where one feels 惊讶.Tatoeba #2367639 by GlossaMatik, translation #2367640 by eastasiastudent
- 你对他的回答不感到惊讶吗？Aren't you surprised by his answer?This sentence is useful for asking if someone feels 惊讶 regarding a specific reaction.Tatoeba #2082983 by sadhen, translation #1365620 by sundown
- 我对他的表演感到吃惊。I was surprised by his performance.
- 当我听到这个消息时，我感到非常吃惊。I was extremely surprised when I heard this news.
- 他的聪明才智让人深感惊讶。His intelligence is truly astonishing.
- 她对这个艺术品表达出了很大的惊讶。She expressed great surprise at this artwork.
- 哇，这个地方真漂亮！Wow, this place is so beautiful!
- 这个礼物真是好意外，谢谢你！This gift is such a surprise, thank you!
- 怪不得他表演得那么好，原来练习了很长时间。No wonder he performed so well, he had been practicing for a long time.
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Wei and Jiayi are talking about a sudden change in the weather.
- 伟 Wei天气变化得真让人惊讶。Tiānqì biànhuà de zhēn ràng rén jīngyà.The weather change is truly surprising.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我也觉得很惊讶。Wǒ yě juéde hěn jīngyà.I feel very surprised too.
- 伟 Wei刚才天还很晴朗。Gāngcái tiān hái hěn qínglǎng.The sky was so clear just now.
- 佳怡 Jiayi真是太突然了。Zhēnshì tài tūrán le.It really was too sudden.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
