惊弓之鸟 jīng gōng zhī niǎo

fig. sb who frightens easily, due to past experiences

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 43117th word

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. sb who frightens easily, due to past experiences
  2. 2. lit. a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
惊 jīng HSK 4
to be frightened; to be scared; to startle
弓 gōng
a bow (weapon); to bend; to arch (one's back etc)
之 zhī HSK 4
(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的de); it
鸟 niǎo HSK 3
bird; (intensifier) damned; goddam