吓 xià to scare
to scare; to frighten; to threaten; to intimidate
怎么记住“吓”: 口 mouth + 下 down = to scare. The big brother opens his mouth wide and jumps down from the bunk bed, roaring, just to scare his little sister.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
吓 = 口 mouth + 下 down
- 口 mouth
- 下 down
- 一 one
- 卜 fortune teller
The big brother opens his mouth wide and jumps down from the bunk bed, roaring, just to scare his little sister.
How it came to be
The mouth gives the meaning; in the full form, the right part gives the sound.
用法
- To frighten/startle: 吓了一跳 (xià le yí tiào) got startled, 吓人 (xiàrén) scary, 吓唬 (xiàhu) to scare someone (colloquial).
- Read hè in the formal 恐吓 (kǒnghè) to threaten/intimidate.
- Note it's usually the cause of fear (to scare), for feeling afraid use 害怕 (hàipà).