胆战心惊
胆战心惊 (dǎn zhàn xīn jīng) literally means “trembling courage startled heart” and expresses “extreme fear or anxiety”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: dan zhan xin jing, dan zhan xin jing,胆战心惊 meaning, 胆战心惊 in english
Extreme fear or anxiety
Pronunciation: dǎn zhàn xīn jīng Literal meaning: Trembling courage startled heart
Origin & Usage
胆 is the gallbladder, which Chinese physiology treats as the seat of courage — the organ that fails first when nerve goes. So the phrase describes courage (胆) trembling (战) and the heart (心) startled (惊), naming two internal organs that have both given way. It is stronger than English 'nervous' and belongs with physical dread rather than worry: heights, examinations with real consequences, the wait outside a room where something is being decided.
Examples
English: "The thought of the upcoming exam made her heart tremble with fear."
Chinese: 想到即将到来的考试，她胆战心惊。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
提心吊胆
tí xīn diào dǎn
Constant dread; unable to stop worrying
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惊心动魄
jīng xīn dòng pò
Thrilling, hair-raising
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触目惊心
chù mù jīng xīn
Shocking; deeply disturbing
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胆大心细
dǎn dà xīn xì
Courage balanced with careful attention
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背水一战
bèi shuǐ yī zhàn
Fight with total commitment having no retreat
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东张西望
dōng zhāng xī wàng
Glancing around in all directions; unable to settle
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战无不胜
zhàn wú bù shèng
Win every battle; be undefeated
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百战百胜
bǎi zhàn bǎi shèng
Consistent success
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 胆战心惊 mean in English?
胆战心惊 (dǎn zhàn xīn jīng) literally translates to “Trembling courage startled heart” and is used to express “Extreme fear or anxiety”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 胆战心惊 used?
Situation: The thought of the upcoming exam made her heart tremble with fear.
What is the pinyin for 胆战心惊?
The pinyin pronunciation for 胆战心惊 is “dǎn zhàn xīn jīng”.