惊魂未定
jīng hún wèi dìng
still shaken; not yet recovered from a fright
Character by character
惊jīng
startled
startled
魂hún
soul
soul
未wèi
not yet
not yet
定dìng
settled
settled
Example
地震过后，惊魂未定的居民都不敢回屋里睡觉。
After the earthquake, residents who were still badly shaken did not dare go back indoors to sleep.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Used just after an accident, an attack or a narrow escape, often as 惊魂未定的乘客／居民. The written 惊魂甫定 is the moment after: the fright has only just subsided.
Learn this in Lesson 203 · HSK 7–9: 利比亚撤侨 (The evacuation from Libya)
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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