<blockquote>
<p>驚奇 (v) - be amazed; be surprised.</p>
<p>Example: 對此事<strong>驚奇</strong>不已 (extremely <strong>amazed</strong> by this event)</p>
<p>驚奇 (adj) - amazing; surprising.</p>
<p>Example:有<strong>驚奇</strong>效果 (having <strong>amazing</strong>/<strong>surprising</strong> effect)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>~</p>
<blockquote>
<p>吃驚 (v) - frighteningly surprised; frightened; suffer/get a scare</p>
<p>Example: 一吃驚, 拔腿就跑 (once frightened, it ran)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>~</p>
<blockquote>
<p>驚喜 (n) - pleasant surprise</p>
<p>Example: 一個驚喜 (a pleasant surprise)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>These terms are used in both Mandarin and Cantonese</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>&quot;to surprise (v)&quot; in Chinese is &quot; 讓/使/令(某人)驚訝&quot;</em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-05T06:14:55.507Z
The last one you used 驚訝? Does it carry the same meaning and connotation as 驚喜? Thanks again!
Crashalot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-05T06:56:24.733Z
訝  in 驚訝 originally meant 'meet' ; 驚訝 ( meet+ surprise/ scare) =  'astonished',  which is a verb; or adjective 'astonishing ' ;  驚喜( pleasant surprise) is a noun
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-05T07:02:49.630Z
驚 surprise 喜 delight; 驚喜 (surprising delight) =  'pleasant surprise' (n)
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-05T05:29:41.317Z
2018-11-10T04:40:32.230Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>This page lists multiple entries for <code>surprise</code>:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/dictionary.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/dictionary.php</a></p>

<p>1) What's the difference among 驚奇, 吃驚, and 驚喜?</p>

<p>2) Are the meaning and uses the same for Cantonese?</p>

<grammar><mandarin><cantonese>
Differences in "surprise" translations: 驚奇, 吃驚, 驚喜
# Differences in "surprise" translations: 驚奇, 吃驚, 驚喜

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-04)

This page lists multiple entries for `surprise`:

<https://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/dictionary.php>

1) What's the difference among 驚奇, 吃驚, and 驚喜?

2) Are the meaning and uses the same for Cantonese?

**Tags:** grammar, mandarin, cantonese


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-11-05. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

> 驚奇 (v) - be amazed; be surprised.
>
> Example: 對此事**驚奇**不已 (extremely **amazed** by this event)
>
> 驚奇 (adj) - amazing; surprising.
>
> Example:有**驚奇**效果 (having **amazing**/**surprising** effect)

~

> 吃驚 (v) - frighteningly surprised; frightened; suffer/get a scare
>
> Example: 一吃驚, 拔腿就跑 (once frightened, it ran)

~

> 驚喜 (n) - pleasant surprise
>
> Example: 一個驚喜 (a pleasant surprise)

These terms are used in both Mandarin and Cantonese

> *"to surprise (v)" in Chinese is " 讓/使/令(某人)驚訝"*

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The last one you used 驚訝? Does it carry the same meaning and connotation as 驚喜? Thanks again!  
> **username_1**: 訝  in 驚訝 originally meant 'meet' ; 驚訝 ( meet+ surprise/ scare) =  'astonished',  which is a verb; or adjective 'astonishing ' ;  驚喜( pleasant surprise) is a noun  
> **username_1**: 驚 surprise 喜 delight; 驚喜 (surprising delight) =  'pleasant surprise' (n)  

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