目瞪口呆

mù dèng kǒu dāi

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

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Definitions

1. dumbstruck (idiom); stupefied
2. stunned

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 泰然自若 tài rán zì ruò 泰然自若 tài rán zì ruò cool and collected (idiom); showing no sign of nerves 形容在紧急情况下沉着镇定，毫不慌乱: cool and collected (idiom); showing no sign of nerves

Synonyms

2 items

• 瞠目结舌 chēng mù jié shé 瞠目结舌 chēng mù jié shé stupefied 形容因吃惊或害怕而发愣的样子: stupefied
• 呆若木鸡 dāi ruò mù jī 呆若木鸡 dāi ruò mù jī lit. dumb as a wooden chicken (idiom); fig. dumbstruck 形容因恐惧或惊讶而发愣的样子: lit. dumb as a wooden chicken (idiom); fig. dumbstruck

Usage notes

Collocations

Often collocates with 吓得 (xià de) as in 吓得目瞪口呆 (so frightened that one is stunned).

Formality

目瞪口呆 is a strong, literary idiom typically used in formal or written contexts to describe extreme shock, not casual surprise.

Example Sentences

1 shown

他听到这个消息，吓得 目瞪口呆 。

He was dumbstruck when he heard the news.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 目瞪口呆

• 口 口 kǒu: mouth
• 呆 呆 dāi: foolish
• 瞪 瞪 dèng: to open (one's eyes) wide
• 目 目 mù: eye