zan3 sip3震懾震慑
Jyutpingzan3 sip3
Yalejan sip
Definition
To frighten someone; to shock and strike fear in the heart of.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
This term carries a formal and dramatic weight that is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation. It implies a sense of awe mixed with intense fear, often used in contexts involving authority, supernatural power, or overwhelming presence. You will encounter it more frequently in written news reports, historical dramas, or literary descriptions rather than in casual chat.
Examples
His imposing presence struck fear into the entire audience.
Has this kind of power actually struck fear into you yet?
Related words
Common phrases
to strike fear into people's hearts
to dominate and awe the entire room
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe simple fright or being startled, as those situations are better served by words like 嚇親 or 驚. Using it for minor incidents sounds overly dramatic and unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
