触目惊心
chù mù jīng xīn
shocking to see; appalling
Character by character
触chù
meet
meet
目mù
eye
eye
惊jīng
startle
startle
心xīn
heart
heart
Example
车祸现场触目惊心，路过的人都不忍心多看。
The scene of the crash was horrifying; passers-by could hardly bear to look.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
触目 means “meeting the eye”. News uses it for footage, scenes, figures and lessons that should alarm: 触目惊心的画面、数字、教训. It describes the sight, not the viewer, so not ✗我很触目惊心.
Learn this in Lesson 118 · HSK 7–9: 土坑酸菜 (Exposé: the pickled-cabbage pits)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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