Meaning and Usage
"惊人" is an adjective used to describe something that is astonishing, surprising, or impressive to a remarkable degree. It often emphasizes the unexpected or extraordinary nature of a fact, event, or ability.
Common Contexts
It is frequently used to praise someone's abilities, achievements, or unexpected outcomes, such as "惊人的记忆力" (amazing memory) or "惊人的速度" (astonishing speed).
Collocations and Patterns
- 惊人的速度: emphasizes very fast speed
- 惊人的成绩: highlights outstanding results
- 令人惊人: used to express that something causes astonishment
Nuance and Register
"惊人" carries a strong positive or neutral connotation, often used in formal or written contexts but also common in spoken language when expressing surprise or admiration. It is stronger than simply "令人吃惊" (surprising) and implies a higher degree of impressiveness.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse "惊人" with "惊讶" (surprised), which describes the feeling of surprise rather than the quality of something being astonishing.