Definition
This is a four-character idiom (成语) that literally means 'the soul flies away and the spirit scatters'. Figuratively it describes being so terrified that one loses all composure — equivalent to 'scared out of one's wits' or 'frightened half to death' in English. It is often used after 吓得 or as a standalone predicate.
f.e.
to be scared out of one's witsfrightened half to death
Examples
- 魂飞魄散。Tūrán chūxiàn de hēiyǐng xià de tā hún fēi bó.The sudden black shadow scared him out of his wits.
- ，魂飞魄散。Tīng dào nàge xiāoxi, tā xià de hún fēi bó.Hearing that news, she was frightened half to death.
- ，魂飞魄散。Tā dúzì zǒu zài qīhēi de xiàngzi lǐ, xīnlǐ hún fēi bó.Walking alone in the pitch-black alley, he was scared out of his wits.
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