Definition
肃然起敬 is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'to be filled with deep respect and admiration' — the kind of reverence you feel when you witness something noble, selfless, or awe-inspiring. It's a set phrase used as a predicate or adverbial, often after seeing someone's heroic actions or learning about their admirable qualities. The literal image is 'solemnly rising in reverence' — you don't break it apart grammatically.
f.e.
to be filled with deep veneration and respectto feel awestruck admiration
Examples
- ,肃然起敬。Kàn dào zhè wèi lǎorén jǐ shí nián rú yí rì de bāngzhù biérén, wǒ bùjīn sù rán qǐ jìng.Seeing this elderly person help others consistently for decades, I couldn't help but feel deep respect.
- 肃然起敬。Tā de wúsī fèngxiàn ràng suǒyǒu rén sù rán qǐ jìng.His selfless dedication filled everyone with deep veneration.
- ,肃然起敬。Tīng le yīngxióng de gùshì, guānzhòng wú bù sù rán qǐ jìng.After hearing the hero's story, the audience was filled with deep respect.
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