Usage of 吓 (hè)
The character 吓 primarily means "to scare" or "to frighten." It is commonly used in everyday conversation to describe situations where someone or something causes fear or surprise.
Common Contexts
- Sudden actions or noises that startle someone: e.g., 突然大喊吓人 (suddenly shouting to scare someone).
- Warning not to frighten others, especially children.
- Describing scary scenes in movies or stories.
Collocations and Patterns
Notes
吓 is often used in informal speech and can express both mild surprise and strong fear depending on context. It differs from 害怕 (to be afraid) in that 吓 focuses on the act of causing fear, while 害怕 describes the feeling itself. Avoid confusing 吓 with 吓唬, which is a colloquial verb meaning "to intimidate" or "to bully."