驚弓之鳥 jīng gōng zhī niǎo

fig. sb who frightens easily, due to past experiences

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

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
驚 jīng
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
鳥 niǎo
bird; (intensifier) damned; goddam