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心惊胆战

C1 phrase 10分で読める

心惊胆战

xīn jīng dǎn zhàn

練習する例文メモとヒント 心惊胆战 30秒で

解説 心惊胆战 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '心惊胆战' yet. Instead, you use the simple word '害怕' (hàipà), which means 'to be afraid'. For example, '我害怕狗' (I am afraid of dogs). '心惊胆战' is a very special and advanced way to say you are *very* afraid. It describes how your heart (心) and your gallbladder (胆) feel when you are scared. Even though it is a difficult word, you can think of it like this: when you see something very scary, your heart jumps, and your body shakes. That is what this word means. In A1, we just focus on 'scared', but in higher levels, we use idioms like this to make our Chinese sound more like a native speaker. You might hear it in a movie when someone is in a dangerous place. Just remember: '心' is heart, and '胆' is for courage. If they are both 'shaking', you are very, very scared! Don't worry about writing it yet, just try to recognize that '心' and '胆' together often talk about feelings of fear.

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At the A2 level, you are beginning to learn more descriptive words for feelings. While you still mostly use '害怕' (hàipà) or '很怕' (hěn pà) for fear, you might encounter '心惊胆战' in children's stories or simple cartoons. It is a 'Chengyu'—a four-character idiom. In Chinese, these idioms are very important. '心惊胆战' describes a physical feeling of terror. Imagine you are walking on a very high bridge made of glass. Your heart beats fast, and you feel like you might fall. That feeling is '心惊胆战'. You can remember it by looking at the characters: '心' (heart) + '惊' (startled) and '胆' (gallbladder, which means 'bravery' in Chinese) + '战' (trembling). So, your heart is startled and your bravery is trembling. You can use it in a simple sentence like: '看到蛇，他心惊胆战。' (Seeing the snake, he was terrified.) It is much stronger than just saying 'he is afraid'. It shows that the fear is very big.

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At the B1 level, you should start recognizing '心惊胆战' in reading materials and understanding its specific nuance. This idiom is used for intense, visceral fear—the kind that affects your whole body. It's not for small things like being afraid of a bug, but for big things like a car accident or a scary movie. Grammatically, it often follows verbs like '感到' (gǎndào - to feel) or '觉得' (juéde - to think/feel). For example: '看完那部恐怖电影，我感到心惊胆战。' (After watching that horror movie, I felt terrified.) You can also see it used with '令人' (lìng rén), which means 'makes people...'. For example: '那场暴雨令人心惊胆战。' (That rainstorm was terrifying.) At this level, you should try to use it occasionally in your writing to describe a character's reaction to a dangerous situation. It makes your descriptions much more vivid than just using '害怕'. Remember the structure: 心 (heart) + 惊 (startled) + 胆 (gallbladder/guts) + 战 (shivering). It's a physical description of terror.

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At the B2 level, you are expected to use '心惊胆战' correctly in both writing and speaking. You should understand that this idiom is a predicate adjective that describes a person's state. It is particularly common in narrative writing. For instance, when describing a narrow escape, you might write: '回想起刚才那惊险的一幕，他依然心惊胆战。' (Recalling that thrilling scene just now, he is still terrified.) You should also be able to use it as an adverbial by adding '地' (de), as in: '他心惊胆战地走过了那座破旧的小桥。' (He walked across that old, broken bridge with fear and trepidation.) At B2, you should also be aware of its synonym '胆战心惊' and know that they are interchangeable. You should be careful not to use it for mild anxiety; it is reserved for situations where there is a perceived threat or danger. It's a great way to add 'color' to your storytelling, showing the reader exactly how a character is physically reacting to fear. You might also hear it in news reports about dangerous events, where it's used to describe the feelings of witnesses or victims.

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As a C1 learner, you should have a nuanced command of '心惊胆战'. You understand that this idiom is not just about 'fear', but about the physiological manifestation of terror, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concepts where the gallbladder (胆) is the seat of courage. You should be able to distinguish it from similar idioms like '毛骨悚然' (creepy/chilling fear) or '魂飞魄散' (extreme shock/fear that 'scatters the soul'). You can use '心惊胆战' in complex sentence structures, such as using it as a complement: '这惊险的表演看得我心惊胆战。' (This thrilling performance made me terrified just watching it.) You should also be comfortable using it in formal contexts, such as literary analysis or news commentary, to describe the psychological state of people in high-stakes environments, like a volatile stock market or a political crisis. At this level, you should use it naturally without having to think about the character order, and you should be able to explain the cultural significance of the 'heart' and 'gallbladder' in the phrase to lower-level learners. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the idiom's intensity—it is a 'heavy' word used for 'heavy' fear.

At the C2 level, '心惊胆战' is a standard part of your high-level vocabulary, used with precision and stylistic flair. You can use it to create specific atmospheric effects in creative writing or to provide deep psychological insight in academic or professional discourse. You understand its historical roots and can appreciate its use in classical literature versus modern media. You might use it ironically or hyperbolically in sophisticated conversation to describe a mundane but stressful task, showing a mastery of tone. Furthermore, you can effortlessly navigate the subtle differences between this and other 'fear' idioms, choosing '心惊胆战' when you want to emphasize the physical shaking and loss of nerve, as opposed to '战战兢兢', which implies a fearful caution. You are also aware of how this idiom appears in various media—from the titles of sensationalist news articles to the internal monologues of characters in high-brow literature. Your ability to deploy this idiom in the '令人...' (making one...) or '...得...' (to the point of...) structures is flawless, and you can use it to build tension in a narrative, perhaps by contrasting a character's outward calm with their internal '心惊胆战' state.

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練習する例文メモとヒント

心惊胆战 30秒で

心惊胆战 is a C1-level idiom describing extreme terror where the heart and gallbladder shiver.
It is commonly used in literature, news, and daily life for high-stakes or dangerous situations.
Grammatically, it acts as a predicate (feeling scared) or an adverb (doing something fearfully).
It differs from other fear idioms by emphasizing the physical, visceral reaction to danger.

The Chinese idiom 心惊胆战 (xīn jīng dǎn zhàn) is a powerful four-character phrase used to describe a state of extreme terror or being paralyzed by fear. To understand its depth, we must look at the individual characters. '心' (xīn) refers to the heart, '惊' (jīng) means to be startled or alarmed, '胆' (dǎn) refers to the gallbladder, and '战' (zhàn) means to shiver or tremble. In traditional Chinese culture and medicine, the heart is considered the seat of the spirit and emotions, while the gallbladder is the source of courage and decision-making. Therefore, when someone is so frightened that their heart is alarmed and their gallbladder is shivering, they are experiencing a visceral, body-wide reaction to danger or a terrifying situation. This isn't just a mild worry; it is the kind of fear that makes your knees weak and your heart race uncontrollably.

Literal Meaning: The heart is startled and the gallbladder trembles.
Common Usage: Used to describe reactions to horror movies, dangerous heights, or high-stakes situations where one is terrified of the outcome.

People use this phrase to convey a sense of vulnerability. Imagine standing on the edge of a sheer cliff with the wind howling around you; that feeling in the pit of your stomach is exactly what 心惊胆战 encapsulates. It is frequently used in literature to heighten the dramatic tension of a scene. For example, a protagonist might feel this way when walking through a dark, haunted forest or when facing a powerful enemy.

想到刚才那场车祸，他至今仍感到心惊胆战。(Thinking about that car accident just now, he still feels terrified.)

In modern contexts, it can also be used figuratively to describe financial anxiety, such as watching a volatile stock market crash. The phrase suggests that the fear is so intense it affects your physical well-being.

走在摇摇欲坠的吊桥上，每个人都心惊胆战。(Walking on the rickety suspension bridge, everyone was trembling with fear.)

It is a C1-level vocabulary because it requires an understanding of the metaphorical link between organs and emotions in Chinese. Using it correctly shows a high level of linguistic sophistication.

Emotional Depth: It conveys a sense of helplessness and intense physiological response, far beyond simple 'fear'.

夜深人静时听到奇怪的敲门声，她吓得心惊胆战。(Hearing a strange knock at the door in the dead of night, she was terrified.)

Ultimately, 心惊胆战 is the perfect choice for any scenario where fear is so great that it shakes a person to their core.

Using 心惊胆战 correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a descriptive idiom (Chengyu). It most commonly functions as a predicate or a complement to a verb, describing the state of the subject. For instance, you can say 'Subject + 感到 + 心惊胆战' (Subject feels terrified) or 'Verb + 得 + 心惊胆战' (Verb so much that one is terrified).

As a Predicate: The phrase can stand alone after the subject to describe their state. Example: '看到那血腥的一幕，他心惊胆战。' (Seeing that bloody scene, he was terrified.)

It is also frequently used with the particle '地' (de) to act as an adverbial modifier, describing *how* an action is performed. For example: '他心惊胆战地走过了独木桥。' (He walked across the single-log bridge with fear and trepidation.) This usage emphasizes that the fear accompanied the action from start to finish.

由于害怕被发现，他心惊胆战地躲在柜子里。(For fear of being discovered, he hid in the cupboard, trembling with fear.)

Another common structure is '令人心惊胆战' (making one feel terrified). This is used when describing an object or a situation that *causes* the fear. For example: '那场雷暴真是令人心惊胆战。' (That thunderstorm was truly terrifying.) Here, the idiom describes the effect the storm had on people.

With '看得' or '听得': These structures indicate that the act of seeing or hearing something resulted in extreme fear. Example: '这部恐怖片看得我心惊胆战。' (Watching this horror movie made me terrified.)

It is important to note that 心惊胆战 is often used in written narratives to provide internal character descriptions. In spoken Chinese, it is used for emphasis when recounting a scary experience.

在那次惊险的海上航行中，船员们无不感到心惊胆战。(During that perilous voyage at sea, every crew member felt terrified.)

老板大发雷霆时，员工们都躲在一旁，心惊胆战。(When the boss flew into a rage, the employees all hid aside, trembling with fear.)

In summary, use this idiom when you want to paint a vivid picture of extreme fear, focusing on the physical reaction of the heart and the loss of courage.

You will encounter 心惊胆战 in a variety of high-intensity contexts in modern Chinese life. One of the most common places is in news reporting, particularly when journalists describe survivors' accounts of natural disasters or major accidents. For example, after an earthquake, a survivor might say, '当时大楼摇晃得厉害，我真是心惊胆战。' (The building was shaking so hard then, I was truly terrified.) This usage adds an emotional layer to the reporting, helping the audience empathize with the victim's trauma.

Literature and Fiction: In suspense novels, wuxia (martial arts) stories, or thrillers, this idiom is a staple for describing a character's reaction to a life-threatening situation.

Another arena where this phrase is frequently used is in the discussion of extreme sports or thrill-seeking activities. When people talk about bungee jumping, skydiving, or walking on glass skywalks (which are very popular in China), they often use 心惊胆战 to describe the 'thrill' which is actually a form of controlled terror.

站在张家界大峡谷的玻璃桥上，低头看那万丈深渊，真是让人心惊胆战。(Standing on the glass bridge of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and looking down at the bottomless abyss, it really makes one tremble with fear.)

In the business world, you might hear this idiom during times of extreme economic instability. If a company is on the verge of bankruptcy, employees might describe their daily working environment as 心惊胆战, fearing that every day might be their last on the job.

Movies and TV: Subtitles in horror movies or crime dramas frequently use this idiom to translate characters' expressions of fear or to describe the atmosphere of a scene.

听着外面那阵阵凄厉的叫声，屋里的人都感到心惊胆战。(Listening to the shrill cries outside, everyone in the room felt terrified.)

Even in casual conversation among friends, the phrase is used for dramatic effect. If someone had a close call while driving, they might recount the story by saying, '刚才差点儿撞车，我现在还心惊胆战呢。' (I almost crashed just now; I'm still shaking from fear.) It effectively communicates that the experience was not just scary, but physically rattling.

这惊险的魔术表演真是看得观众心惊胆战。(This thrilling magic performance really made the audience tremble with fear.)

In essence, wherever there is drama, danger, or high stakes, 心惊胆战 is the go-to expression for describing the resulting fear.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with 心惊胆战 is using it for situations that aren't actually terrifying. Because it translates to 'scared' or 'terrified,' some students use it for mild anxiety, like being nervous about a small test or a first date. However, 心惊胆战 implies a physical reaction to *danger*. Using it for a first date would sound very strange and overly dramatic, as if the person were literally fearing for their life.

Mistake 1: Misjudging Intensity: Incorrect: '明天要考试，我心惊胆战。' (I'm terrified because of tomorrow's exam.) Unless it's a life-or-death exam, use '紧张' (jǐnzhāng - nervous) instead.

Another common error is confusing it with its synonym 胆战心惊 (dǎn zhàn xīn jīng). While these two are almost identical in meaning and are often interchangeable, 心惊胆战 is slightly more common in modern prose. However, some learners accidentally mix the characters into non-existent combinations like '心战胆惊' or '惊心战胆'. It is crucial to memorize the order: Heart-Startle-Gallbladder-Tremble.

Incorrect: 他听了那个鬼故事，觉得心战胆惊。(He felt terrified after hearing that ghost story.) Correct: ...心惊胆战。

Learners also struggle with the grammatical placement. Since it is an idiom, it doesn't always behave like a simple adjective. You cannot say '我很心惊胆战' (I am very heart-startled-gallbladder-trembling) because '很' (very) usually doesn't precede four-character idioms that already contain an internal degree of intensity. Instead, use '感到' (feel) or '觉得' (think/feel).

Mistake 2: Using '很' (Very): Incorrect: '那里的风景很心惊胆战。' (The scenery there is very terrifying.) Correct: '那里的风景令人心惊胆战。' (The scenery there makes one feel terrified.)

Incorrect: 他心惊胆战了。 Correct: 他感到心惊胆战。

Finally, be careful not to confuse it with '惊心动魄' (jīng xīn dòng pò). While both involve the heart (心), '惊心动魄' describes something that is soul-stirring or breathtakingly exciting (like a great movie or a sports match), whereas 心惊胆战 is purely about fear and negative terror.

这场比赛真是惊心动魄！(This game is truly soul-stirring!) vs 这场意外真让人心惊胆战。(This accident really makes one terrified.)

By avoiding these pitfalls, your use of the idiom will sound much more natural and precise.

In Chinese, there are several idioms that express fear, and knowing the differences between them is key to C1 proficiency. The most direct synonym for 心惊胆战 is 胆战心惊 (dǎn zhàn xīn jīng). These two are essentially the same, just with the character pairs swapped. They are interchangeable in almost every context.

Comparison: 魂飞魄散 (hún fēi pò sàn): This literally means 'the soul has flown away and the spirit has scattered'. It is much stronger than 心惊胆战. It describes someone who is so scared they have lost their senses or are 'scared to death'.

Another alternative is 毛骨悚然 (máo gǔ sǒng rán). This phrase focuses on a different physical sensation: 'the hair stands up and the bones shiver'. This is best used for 'creepy' fear, like when you are in a haunted house or hearing a ghost story. 心惊胆战 is more about 'active' fear in the face of danger, while 毛骨悚然 is about the 'chills' you get from something eerie.

看到那个恐怖的面具，他感到毛骨悚然。(Seeing that scary mask, he felt his hair stand on end.)

Comparison: 提心吊胆 (tí xīn diào dǎn): This means 'to carry one's heart in one's hand'. It describes a state of constant anxiety and being 'on edge', rather than a sudden moment of terror. If you are waiting for bad news, you are '提心吊胆'. If you are currently in a car crash, you are '心惊胆战'.

There is also 惶恐不安 (huáng kǒng bù ān), which is more formal and describes a general state of being uneasy and fearful, often due to a guilty conscience or fear of punishment from a superior.

犯了错之后，他整天惶恐不安。(After making a mistake, he was uneasy and fearful all day long.)

Comparison: 战战兢兢 (zhàn zhàn jīng jīng): This describes a state of extreme caution and trembling, often because one is afraid of making a mistake in front of a powerful person. It is 'trembling with fear and caution'.

在严厉的老师面前，学生们都战战兢兢。(In front of the strict teacher, the students were all trembling with caution.)

By choosing the right idiom, you can convey the exact nuance of the fear being experienced.

How Formal Is It?

豆知識

In ancient China, the gallbladder was believed to be the organ responsible for 'judgment' and 'courage.' If you were brave, you had a 'big gallbladder' (胆子大). If you were terrified, your gallbladder would 'shiver' (胆战).

発音ガイド

UK ʃin dʒiŋ dæn dʒæn

US ʃin dʒiŋ dæn dʒæn

The primary stress is on the first and third characters: XIN-jing DAN-zhan.

韻が合う語

心 (xīn) rhymes with: 亲 (qīn), 新 (xīn), 金 (jīn) 惊 (jīng) rhymes with: 明 (míng), 听 (tīng), 精 (jīng) 胆 (dǎn) rhymes with: 展 (zhǎn), 满 (mǎn), 懒 (lǎn) 战 (zhàn) rhymes with: 见 (jiàn), 变 (biàn), 念 (niàn)

よくある間違い

Pronouncing 'zhan' as 'shan'.
Pronouncing 'dan' with a hard 'd' like in 'dog' instead of a softer unaspirated 't/d'.
Confusing the tones: It is 1-1-3-4 (xīn jīng dǎn zhàn).
Swapping 'xin' and 'dan' but forgetting the verbs: 'dan jing xin zhan' is wrong.
Mumbling the 'ng' in 'jing'.

難易度

読解 4/5

Requires knowledge of four distinct, relatively complex characters and the concept of Chengyu.

ライティング 5/5

The characters '惊' and '战' can be tricky to write correctly under pressure.

スピーキング 3/5

The pronunciation is straightforward once the tones are mastered.

リスニング 3/5

Easy to recognize in context due to the distinct 'Xin' and 'Dan' sounds.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

害怕 (hàipà) 心 (xīn) 惊 (jīng) 胆 (dǎn) 战 (zhàn)

次に学ぶ

魂飞魄散 (hún fēi pò sàn) 毛骨悚然 (máo gǔ sǒng rán) 惊心动魄 (jīng xīn dòng pò) 提心吊胆 (tí xīn diào dǎn) 战战兢兢 (zhàn zhàn jīng jīng)

上級

不寒而栗 (bù hán ér lì) 惶惶不可终日 (huáng huáng bù kě zhōng rì) 大惊失色 (dà jīng shī sè)

知っておくべき文法

Chengyu as Predicates

他心惊胆战。

Using '得' for Complement of Degree

他吓得心惊胆战。

Using '令' or '使' for Causative Sentences

这景象令人心惊胆战。

Using '地' for Adverbial Modification

他心惊胆战地走过去。

Topic-Comment Structure

这件事，我听了心惊胆战。

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レベル別の例文

我害怕，心惊胆战。

I am afraid, terrified.

A1 learners can use this as a simple state description.

看到大狗，他心惊胆战。

Seeing the big dog, he was terrified.

Basic Subject + Idiom structure.

天黑了，我很心惊胆战。

It's dark, I'm terrified.

Note: In formal Chinese, '很' is usually not used with this idiom, but A1 learners might use it this way.

妈妈心惊胆战。

Mom is terrified.

Simple subject-predicate structure.

他不心惊胆战。

He is not terrified.

Negative form using '不'.

你心惊胆战吗？

Are you terrified?

Question form using '吗'.

由于怕水，他心惊胆战。

Because he is afraid of water, he is terrified.

Using '由于' (because) to show cause.

小猫心惊胆战地躲着。

The kitten is hiding, terrified.

Using '地' to form an adverb.

那个鬼故事听得我心惊胆战。

That ghost story made me terrified (to the point of trembling).

Using '听得' to show the result of hearing.

走在高山上，他感到心惊胆战。

Walking on a high mountain, he felt terrified.

Using '感到' (to feel) + Chengyu.

电梯突然停了，大家都很心惊胆战。

The elevator suddenly stopped, everyone was terrified.

Contextual use in a common scary situation.

这真是一场令人心惊胆战的比赛。

This is truly a terrifying (high-stakes) game.

Using '令人' (makes one) to describe a situation.

他心惊胆战地敲了敲门。

He knocked on the door with fear and trepidation.

Adverbial use with '地'.

小明心惊胆战地看着那条蛇。

Xiao Ming watched that snake with terror.

Describing the manner of an action.

想到要去打针，他就心惊胆战。

Thinking about getting an injection, he was terrified.

Using '想到...就...' structure.

森林里的响声让他心惊胆战。

The noises in the forest made him terrified.

Cause and effect structure.

在暴风雨中航行，水手们都感到心惊胆战。

Sailing in a storm, the sailors all felt terrified.

Formal '感到' with a group subject.

那部恐怖片的画面真是令人心惊胆战。

The scenes in that horror movie were truly terrifying.

Describing the quality of media.

他心惊胆战地走过那条漆黑的小巷。

He walked through that pitch-black alleyway with fear.

Adverbial phrase describing a tense action.

每当想起那次车祸，她都会感到心惊胆战。

Whenever she thinks of that car accident, she feels terrified.

Using '每当...都...' for recurring feelings.

站在悬崖边上，他吓得心惊胆战。

Standing on the edge of the cliff, he was scared to the point of trembling.

Using '吓得' (scared to the point that...).

看到老板生那么大的气，员工们都心惊胆战。

Seeing the boss so angry, the employees were all terrified.

Social context: fear of authority.

这惊险的杂技表演看得观众心惊胆战。

This thrilling acrobatics performance made the audience terrified watching it.

Complement of result/degree '看得'.

他在森林里迷了路，心里感到心惊胆战。

He got lost in the forest and felt terrified in his heart.

Redundant but common '心里感到' for emphasis.

走在摇摇欲坠的木桥上，我不禁感到心惊胆战。

Walking on the rickety wooden bridge, I couldn't help but feel terrified.

Using '不禁' (cannot help but) to add emotional depth.

那次大地震的经历让他至今想起来仍心惊胆战。

The experience of that big earthquake still makes him terrified when he thinks of it today.

Using '至今...仍...' for long-lasting effects.

他心惊胆战地等待着医生的诊断结果。

He waited for the doctor's diagnosis with fear and trepidation.

Describing a state of suspenseful fear.

这种极速过山车真是让人玩得心惊胆战。

This kind of high-speed roller coaster really makes people terrified while riding.

Using '玩得' to show the result of an activity.

面对如此强大的对手，他难免会感到心惊胆战。

Facing such a powerful opponent, it's inevitable that he would feel terrified.

Using '难免' (inevitable) to show a natural reaction.

听到窗外传来的阵阵怪声，她心惊胆战地关上了窗户。

Hearing the strange noises outside the window, she closed the window with fear.

Complex sentence with a participial-like phrase at the start.

股市的剧烈波动让很多投资者感到心惊胆战。

The violent fluctuations in the stock market have made many investors feel terrified.

Figurative use in a financial context.

他在法庭上心惊胆战地回答了律师的所有提问。

In court, he answered all the lawyer's questions with fear and trepidation.

Formal setting usage.

在那场惊心动魄的劫案中，人质们无不感到心惊胆战。

In that soul-stirring robbery, every one of the hostages felt terrified.

Using '无不' (none not/everyone) for literary emphasis.

这种高空无保护攀爬，哪怕是看着都让人心惊胆战。

This kind of high-altitude unroped climbing is terrifying even just to watch.

Using '哪怕是...都...' (even if... still...).

面对突如其来的变故，他表面镇定，内心却心惊胆战。

Facing the sudden turn of events, he remained calm on the surface but was terrified inside.

Contrast between '表面' (surface) and '内心' (inner heart).

作者用细腻的笔触描写了主人公在绝境中那份心惊胆战。

The author used delicate brushstrokes to describe the protagonist's terror in a desperate situation.

Using the idiom as a noun-like object of a description.

尽管他心惊胆战，但还是勇敢地冲进了火场救人。

Despite being terrified, he still bravely rushed into the fire to save people.

Using '尽管...但还是...' to show contrast with bravery.

那场海啸席卷而来时的景象，至今想来仍令人心惊胆战。

The sight of that tsunami sweeping in is still terrifying to think about today.

Describing a traumatic historical event.

他在黑暗中摸索着前进，每走一步都心惊胆战。

He groped forward in the dark, terrified with every step he took.

Using '每...都...' to show continuous fear.

听着上司那冰冷的语气，他感到心惊胆战，不知该如何应对。

Listening to his boss's cold tone, he felt terrified, not knowing how to respond.

Describing psychological pressure in a professional setting.

这部作品通过营造一种心惊胆战的氛围，成功地探讨了人性的阴暗面。

By creating a terrifying atmosphere, this work successfully explored the dark side of human nature.

Academic/Critical analysis usage.

在那段动荡不安的岁月里，人们过着心惊胆战的日子。

In those turbulent years, people lived days of fear and trepidation.

Describing a historical period as a modifier for '日子' (days/life).

他那番耸人听闻的言论，听得在场的人无不心惊胆战。

His sensationalist remarks made everyone present feel terrified.

Using '耸人听闻' (sensational/appalling) to complement the idiom.

这种在法律边缘试探的行为，实在令人心惊胆战。

This behavior of testing the limits of the law is truly terrifying.

Metaphorical use regarding legal/moral risks.

他虽然经历过大风大浪，但面对这种未知的危险，依然难免心惊胆战。

Although he has experienced many trials, facing this unknown danger, he still inevitably feels terrified.

Using '大风大浪' (big winds and waves/life trials) as a contrast.

在这场博弈中，稍有不慎便会满盘皆输，参与者无不心惊胆战。

In this game/gamble, a slight mistake would lead to a total loss; all participants are terrified.

Using '稍有不慎' (a slight mistake) to set the stakes.

那种被死神扼住咽喉的感觉，让他至今想起来仍心惊胆战。

That feeling of being strangled by the Grim Reaper still makes him terrified to this day.

Highly metaphorical and literary description.

他心惊胆战地履行着那份契约，生怕露出半点破绽。

He fulfilled that contract with fear and trepidation, for fear of revealing the slightest flaw.

Describing a state of constant, high-stakes caution.

よく使う組み合わせ

感到心惊胆战

令人心惊胆战

看得心惊胆战

听得心惊胆战

心惊胆战地走

内心心惊胆战

回想起来心惊胆战

吓得心惊胆战

一副心惊胆战的样子

这种心惊胆战的感觉

よく使うフレーズ

吓得我心惊胆战

— Scared me so much that I was trembling. Used to express a deep shock.

刚才那声巨响，真是吓得我心惊胆战。

令人心惊胆战的场面

— A terrifying scene. Used in descriptions of accidents or horror.

事故现场是一个令人心惊胆战的场面。

一想起就心惊胆战

— Terrified as soon as one thinks of it. Used for traumatic memories.

那次落水的经历，我一想起就心惊胆战。

心惊胆战地过日子

— To live in constant fear. Used for unstable or dangerous times.

在战乱地区，人们心惊胆战地过日子。

看得观众心惊胆战

— Making the audience terrified while watching. Common in performance reviews.

空中飞人的表演看得观众心惊胆战。

听得毛骨悚然，心惊胆战

— To be creeped out and terrified by what one hears. Double idiom for emphasis.

他的犯罪经过听得人毛骨悚然，心惊胆战。

表现得心惊胆战

— To act in a terrified manner. Used for actors or people in fear.

他在面试时表现得心惊胆战。

并非心惊胆战

— Not at all terrified. Used for showing bravery.

面对威胁，他并非心惊胆战。

免不了心惊胆战

— Inevitably terrified. Used for natural human reactions.

第一次跳伞，免不了心惊胆战。

整天心惊胆战

— Terrified all day long. Describes persistent fear.

他因为欠债，整天心惊胆战。

よく混同される語

心惊胆战 vs 惊心动魄

惊心动魄 is for exciting/soul-stirring things; 心惊胆战 is purely for terror.

心惊胆战 vs 战战兢兢

战战兢兢 implies caution and fear of making a mistake; 心惊胆战 is about pure fear of danger.

心惊胆战 vs 提心吊胆

提心吊胆 is for long-term anxiety; 心惊胆战 is for acute terror.

慣用句と表現

"胆战心惊"

— Exactly the same as 心惊胆战. The heart and gallbladder tremble with fear.

他胆战心惊地走进了森林。

Neutral

"心惊肉跳"

— The heart is startled and the flesh jumps. Describes extreme anxiety or fear.

听到坏消息，他感到心惊肉跳。

Informal

"惊心动魄"

— Soul-stirring; breathtaking. Can be for fear or excitement.

这场决斗真是惊心动魄。

Neutral

"魂不附体"

— The soul is not attached to the body. Scared out of one's wits.

他被吓得魂不附体。

Literary

"毛骨悚然"

— Hair standing on end and bones shivering. For creepy fear.

这间旧屋子让人毛骨悚然。

Neutral

"战战兢兢"

— Trembling with fear and caution. Often used for fear of authority.

他战战兢兢地递上了报告。

Formal

"兢兢业业"

— Cautious and conscientious. Not about fear, but often confused by sound.

他工作兢兢业业。

Formal

"不寒而栗"

— Shivering even when not cold. A very deep, chilling fear.

想到那个后果，我不寒而栗。

Literary

"提心吊胆"

— Heart hanging in the air. Constant anxiety.

他整天提心吊胆地怕被解雇。

Neutral

"惶惶不可终日"

— So terrified that one cannot last the day. Extreme, constant panic.

他整天惶惶不可终日。

Formal

間違えやすい

心惊胆战 vs 胆战心惊

It's the same characters in a different order.

There is no functional difference; they are synonyms. However, 心惊胆战 is slightly more common in modern text.

他胆战心惊地看着对手。

心惊胆战 vs 魂飞魄散

Both describe being very scared.

魂飞魄散 is much stronger, meaning 'scared to death' or losing one's senses from fear.

这一吓让他魂飞魄散。

心惊胆战 vs 毛骨悚然

Both involve physical reactions to fear.

毛骨悚然 is for 'creepy' or 'chilling' fear (ghosts), while 心惊胆战 is for 'shaking' fear (danger).

那个地方让人毛骨悚然。

心惊胆战 vs 大惊失色

Both describe a reaction to a shock.

大惊失色 focuses on the facial expression (turning pale), while 心惊胆战 focuses on the internal/physical trembling.

他大惊失色地跑了出来。

心惊胆战 vs 惊慌失措

Both involve being scared.

惊慌失措 emphasizes losing control and not knowing what to do, while 心惊胆战 emphasizes the feeling of terror.

火灾发生时，他惊慌失措。

文型パターン

S + 感到 + 心惊胆战

他感到心惊胆战。

S + 吓得 + 心惊胆战

小明被吓得心惊胆战。

令人 + 心惊胆战

这真令人心惊胆战。

V + 得 + 心惊胆战

这电影看得我心惊胆战。

心惊胆战 + 地 + V

他心惊胆战地走过了桥。

虽然...但仍...心惊胆战

虽然安全了，但他仍心惊胆战。

内心 + 心惊胆战

他内心感到心惊胆战。

营造...心惊胆战的氛围

导演营造了心惊胆战的氛围。

語族

名詞

心 (Heart)

胆 (Gallbladder/Courage)

動詞

惊 (To startle)

战 (To shiver/tremble)

形容詞

心惊 (Heart-startled)

胆战 (Gall-trembling)

使い方

frequency

High in literature and news; moderate in daily speech.

よくある間違い

Using '很' (hěn) before '心惊胆战'. → Use '感到' (gǎndào) or '心里' (xīnlǐ) instead.
Idioms are often 'complete' descriptions and don't take 'very' as easily as simple adjectives. '感到心惊胆战' is much more natural.
Confusing '心惊胆战' with '惊心动魄'. → Use '惊心动魄' for exciting things and '心惊胆战' for scary things.
While both involve '心' (heart), the former can be positive (thrilling), whereas the latter is always negative (terrified).
Writing '战' (zhàn) as '站' (zhàn). → Use '战' (shiver/war).
Even though they sound the same, '站' means 'to stand'. The idiom requires '战' which means 'to tremble'.
Using it for mild nervousness. → Use '紧张' (jǐnzhāng).
'心惊胆战' is for extreme terror. Using it for a small test makes you sound melodramatic.
Wrong character order (e.g., 心战胆惊). → 心惊胆战 (xīn jīng dǎn zhàn).
The order is fixed: Heart-Startle, Gallbladder-Tremble. Memorize it as a 1-2-3-4 sequence.

ヒント

Using with Complements

Always remember the 'V + 得 + 心惊胆战' pattern. It's the most natural way to describe how an activity made you feel. For example, '爬山爬得我心惊胆战' (Climbing the mountain made me terrified).

Pairing with Synonyms

In literature, writers sometimes pair '心惊胆战' with '毛骨悚然' to emphasize both the physical trembling and the creepy chills of a situation. This makes the description very vivid.

Tone Accuracy

The tones are 1-1-3-4. Make sure 'Zhan' is a sharp falling tone (4th) to emphasize the 'trembling' action. Correct tones make you sound much more like a native speaker.

Gallbladder = Guts

Think of '胆' (gallbladder) as 'guts' in English. When your 'guts' tremble, you've lost your nerve. This connection helps you understand why the organ is in the idiom.

Narrative Tension

Use this idiom at the climax of a scary story. It signals to the reader that the fear has reached its peak and is now affecting the character physically.

Context Clues

If you hear 'Xin' and 'Dan' in a news report about an accident, the speaker is almost certainly describing the terror of the survivors.

Avoid Overuse

Because it's a strong idiom, don't use it for every little scare. Save it for the 'big' moments to keep your Chinese sounding precise and impactful.

Ancient Roots

Knowing it comes from 'Zhuangzi' can help you remember its prestige. It's not just slang; it's a piece of classical Chinese heritage.

Fear vs. Caution

Don't confuse '心惊胆战' with '战战兢兢'. Use the former for 'I'm scared of that monster' and the latter for 'I'm scared of making my boss angry'.

Daily Observation

When you see something scary on the news or in a movie, try to say '令人心惊胆战' out loud. Real-world association is the best way to learn idioms.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Imagine your HEART (心) being JUMPING (惊) like a startled bird, and your GALLBLADDER (胆) SHAKING (战) like a leaf in a storm. Heart-Startle, Gall-Shake.

視覚的連想

Picture a person standing on a glass floor 100 stories up. Their hand is over their heart (心惊) and their legs are shaking (胆战).

Word Web

心 (Heart) 惊 (Startle) 胆 (Gallbladder) 战 (Tremble) 恐 (Fear) 颤 (Shake) 危 (Danger) 险 (Peril)

チャレンジ

Try to use '心惊胆战' in a sentence describing a time you were very scared. Then, try to use its synonym '胆战心惊' in a similar sentence.

語源

This idiom comes from the 'Zhuangzi' (《庄子·外物》), an ancient Taoist text from the Warring States period. It describes the physical reaction of the body when faced with overwhelming power or danger.

元の意味： The original text used it to describe the awe and fear one feels when witnessing the immense power of nature or a sage.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese Chengyu).

文化的な背景

This is a standard idiom and is not offensive, but it should be used with empathy when describing others' trauma.

The closest English equivalent is 'trembling with fear' or 'shaking in one's boots,' but '心惊胆战' is more formal and literary.

Used in 'Journey to the West' to describe demons fearing Sun Wukong. Frequently appears in the 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' during battle descriptions. Commonly found in Lu Xun's modern literature to describe the atmosphere of old China.

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

Natural Disasters

地震时心惊胆战
洪水令人心惊胆战
经历过的人都心惊胆战
心惊胆战的逃生过程

Horror Movies/Stories

恐怖片看得心惊胆战
听鬼故事心惊胆战
氛围令人心惊胆战
吓得心惊胆战

High Places/Extreme Sports

站在高处心惊胆战
走玻璃桥心惊胆战
蹦极让人心惊胆战
心惊胆战的体验

Accidents/Near Misses

刚才的车祸令人心惊胆战
想起那次事故就心惊胆战
心惊胆战地躲过一劫
吓得我心惊胆战

High Stakes/Pressure

股市大跌令人心惊胆战
在老板面前心惊胆战
心惊胆战地等待结果
感到十分心惊胆战

会話のきっかけ

"你有没有过什么让你心惊胆战的经历？"

"你觉得哪种恐怖电影最让人心惊胆战？"

"站在很高的地方你会感到心惊胆战吗？"

"你有没有心惊胆战地做过什么冒险的事情？"

"看到别人做危险动作，你会感到心惊胆战吗？"

日記のテーマ

描写一次让你感到心惊胆战的冒险经历，不少于200字。

你认为什么样的事情最令人心惊胆战？为什么？

如果你在森林里迷路了，你会感到心惊胆战吗？你会怎么办？

谈谈你对‘心惊胆战’这个成语的文化理解。

描写一个令人心惊胆战的电影片段。

よくある質問

10 問

Yes, absolutely. It's very common to say '这部电影看得我心惊胆战' (This movie made me terrified). It's a great way to describe the intense fear you feel during suspenseful scenes.

It is neutral to formal. It's a 'Chengyu' (idiom), so it adds a touch of sophistication to your speech. You can use it in literature, news, and also in dramatic daily conversations.

There is virtually no difference. They are synonyms with the same meaning: the heart is startled and the gallbladder trembles. You can use either one, though '心惊胆战' is slightly more common in modern usage.

Usually, no. '心惊胆战' is for extreme fear or danger. For an exam, '紧张' (jǐnzhāng) is more appropriate. Using '心惊胆战' for a test would sound like you are terrified for your life.

Add the particle '地' (de) after the idiom. For example: '他心惊胆战地走过了独木桥' (He walked across the single-log bridge with fear and trepidation).

In traditional Chinese culture, the gallbladder is seen as the seat of courage. If your gallbladder 'trembles' (战), it means your courage is shaking or failing you.

While understandable, it's better to say '我感到心惊胆战' or '我心里心惊胆战'. Many four-character idioms don't pair well with '很' because they already imply a high degree of intensity.

No. Unlike the English word 'thrilling,' '心惊胆战' is always negative. If you mean 'breathtakingly exciting,' use '惊心动魄' (jīng xīn dòng pò) instead.

Yes, by using '令人' (making one...). For example: '那个悬崖真是令人心惊胆战' (That cliff is truly terrifying).

Think of the order of organs: Heart (心) then Gallbladder (胆). Then pair them with the verbs: Startle (惊) and Tremble (战). Heart-Startle, Gall-Tremble.

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