Definition
This is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'to be terrified' or 'to tremble with fear.' The literal image — 'gallbladder trembling, heart startled' — is not used in modern Chinese; instead the phrase describes a state of extreme fear or nervousness, often in anticipation of something bad. You can use it as a predicate or an adverbial modifier (e.g. 吓得胆战心惊).
f.e.
to be terror-strickento tremble with fear
Examples
- 胆战心惊。Nà chǎng bàofēngyǔ xià de dàjiā dǎn zhàn xīn jīng.That storm frightened everyone so badly they trembled with fear.
- ，胆战心惊。Tā zhàn zài xuányá biān, bùjīn gǎndào dǎn zhàn xīn jīng.Standing at the edge of the cliff, he couldn't help but feel terrified.
- ，胆战心惊，。Tīng dào zhège xiāoxi, tā xià de dǎn zhàn xīn jīng, yí jù huà yě shuō bù chūlái.Upon hearing the news, she was so frightened that she couldn't say a word.
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