惊叹
jīng tàn · HSK 7
to exclaim in admiration
😲 惊 startle + 叹 sigh = a startled sigh of admiration
Compound of 惊 (to startle, be alarmed) and 叹 (to sigh or exclaim). Together it names the involuntary gasp that escapes when something amazes you. The 口 (mouth) radical in 叹 marks it as a sound made aloud.
惊 — horse 马 + respect 敬 (phonetic)
Originally written 驚 with 馬 (horse) as the meaning component and 敬 as the phonetic, depicting a horse startled or frightened. The simplified form 惊 replaces 馬 with 忄 (heart radical), shifting the imagery to a startled mind. The core meaning is to be alarmed, surprised, or shocked.