惊奇
jīngqí · HSK 7
be surprised/amazed
😲 惊 startle + 奇 strange = struck by something strange, i.e. amazement
惊 carries the sense of being startled or alarmed; 奇 means strange or wonderful. Together they name the jolt of surprise you feel meeting something odd or remarkable. The qí here is the same 奇 as in 奇怪 (strange).
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.