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惊奇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
惊奇jīngqíto be amazedHSK 7, a, rank #5047, Hard
惊奇jīngqíto be surprisedHSK 7, a, rank #5047, Hard
惊奇jīngqíto wonderHSK 7, a, rank #5047, Hard
jīngqí(jing1qi2) T1
  1. 1to be amazed
  2. 2to be surprised
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March 24, 2026
惊奇(驚奇)jīngqí(jing1qi2)

惊奇 (jīngqí) means to be amazed or surprised, often in response to something unexpected or extraordinary. It can be used in both positive and neutral contexts, conveying a sense of wonder or astonishment about events, discoveries, or situations.

Frequency#5047DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressions of surprise and wonder can often be linked to admiration for nature or impressive feats, reflecting a cultural appreciation for the extraordinary in everyday life. For example, witnessing a beautiful landscape or a skilled performance can evoke a sense of 惊奇.

Memory Tip

Think of '惊' (jīng) as a startled person jumping back in surprise, while '奇' (qí) resembles a question mark, symbolizing wonder and curiosity. Together, they form a vivid image of someone experiencing a surprising moment that leads them to question or marvel at what they see.

Meanings of 惊奇

jīngqí(jing1qi2)
1to be amazed
2to be surprised
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 惊奇

惊奇Simplified
驚奇Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5047Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 惊奇

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Podcast: 惊奇

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AI Study Notes for 惊奇

Quick Contrast

惊讶 (jīngyà) — use 惊奇 for a sense of wonder, while 惊讶 emphasizes shock or disbelief.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of '惊' (jīng) as a startled person jumping back in surprise, while '奇' (qí) resembles a question mark, symbolizing wonder and curiosity. Together, they form a vivid image of someone experiencing a surprising moment that leads them to question or marvel at what they see.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 惊奇 with similar words like 惊讶 (jīngyà), which specifically means 'astonished' and carries a more negative connotation. This word is more commonly used in informal situations, though it can appear in written contexts as well. Common collocations include '感到惊奇' (gǎndào jīngqí) meaning 'to feel amazed'.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 惊奇 connects with other advanced vocabulary that expresses emotions and reactions. Students should practice using it in various contexts, especially in narratives or descriptions of surprising events.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressions of surprise and wonder can often be linked to admiration for nature or impressive feats, reflecting a cultural appreciation for the extraordinary in everyday life. For example, witnessing a beautiful landscape or a skilled performance can evoke a sense of 惊奇.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 惊奇 with 惊喜 (jīngxǐ), which means 'pleasant surprise'. For example, saying '我感到惊喜' (wǒ gǎndào jīngxǐ) when describing awe at a beautiful scene should actually use 惊奇 instead, leading to the correct phrase '我感到惊奇'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 惊奇

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Component Characters

惊jīngto start
HSK 711 strokes忄
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奇jīodd (number)
8 strokes大
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Write 惊奇

惊
奇

Practice writing 惊奇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 惊奇

惊奇 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

____的是地板居然从未塌陷。

It was a marvel that the floor never gave way.

Example Sentences for 惊奇 (10)

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1
惊奇的是地板居然从未塌陷。

jīng qí de shì dì bǎn jū rán cóng wèi tā xiàn。

It was a marvel that the floor never gave way.
2
她游得这么好,使他们都很惊奇.

tā yóu dé zhè mó hǎo, , shǐ tā mén dū hěn jīng.

It'surprised them that she was such a fine swimmer.
3
让人感到惊奇的是，板球碰巧也是我最喜欢的运动。

ràng rén gǎn dào jīng qí de shì， ， bǎn qiú pèng qiǎo yě shì wǒ zuì xǐ huān de yùn。

By a curious twist of fate, cricket was also my favourite sport.
4
稍加提醒我们就能想起很多东西，真是让人惊奇。

shāo jiā tí xǐng wǒ mén jiù néng xiǎng qǐ hěn duō dōng xī， ， zhēn shì ràng rén jīng。

It's amazing what we can re-member with a little prompting.
5
老人转身十分惊奇地看了她一眼。

lǎo rén zhuǎn shēn shí fēn jīng qí dì kàn le tā yī yǎn。

The old man turned to give her a look of pure surprise.
6
大多数演员都为该剧大获成功而感到惊奇。

dà duō shù yǎn yuán dū wéi gāi jù dà huò chéng gōng ér gǎn dào jīng qí。

Most of the cast was amazed by the play's success.
7
荷兰烤箱能够做的食物之多会让你感到惊奇。

hé lán kǎo xiāng néng gòu zuò de shí wù zhī duō huì ràng nǐ gǎn dào jīng qí。

You'll be amazed at the culinary creations possible in a Dutch oven.
8
“对呀！”博比惊奇地叫道。“你是怎么想起那件事的？”

“ “ duì！” yā ！” bó bǐ jīng qí dì。“ jiào dào 。“ nǐ shì zěn mó xiǎng qǐ nà？”

"That's right!" Bobby exclaimed in wonder. "How did you remember that?"
9
他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声.

tā mén tīng jiàn tā jīng qí dì dà jiào yī shēng.

They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.
10
我们非常惊奇，眼珠都快瞪出来了。

wǒ mén fēi cháng jīng qí， ， yǎn zhū dū kuài dèng chū lái。

We were bug-eyed in wonderment.

Cultural Notes for 惊奇

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, expressions of surprise and wonder can often be linked to admiration for nature or impressive feats, reflecting a cultural appreciation for the extraordinary in everyday life. For example, witnessing a beautiful landscape or a skilled performance can evoke a sense of 惊奇.

Frequently Asked Questions about 惊奇

Yes, while it is commonly used in informal contexts, it can also appear in formal writing, particularly when describing surprising discoveries or events.