驚

A sudden, reflexive reaction—a "startle" or "jolt"—denoting abrupt disruption rather than a sustained emotional state. The stimulus may be driven by alarm and fear (a response to threat) or astonishment and wonder (shock caused by the unexpected).

• Transitive: to frighten, alarm, or startle others.
• Intransitive: to be startled or surprised.
• Adjectival: describing a state of agitation or nervousness.

Contrast with related terms:

• 恐 (kǒng): typically denotes lingering dread or apprehension of a future outcome, whereas 驚 is an immediate physical reaction.
• 駭 (hài): suggests a more profound cognitive shock; often rendered as "appalled" or "aghast."
• 愕 (è): represents the state of being stunned or dumbfounded ("the freeze"), whereas 驚 is "the jump."

Simplified variant: U+60CA. In earlier, visceral prose, the glyph leans heavily toward alarm and fear; in later texts, the range expands toward general surprise.

• Equestrian/Military: In contexts such as 驚馬 (startled horse), it implies unpredictable, dangerous instability. Metaphorically, this extends to people prone to panic or extreme nervousness.
• Sleep: Frequently used for the act of snapping awake from a dream or sudden noise.