骇人听闻

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: hài rén tīng wén
• English Translation: Appalling / Hair-raising (shocking news of atrocities)
• Idiom Composition: 「骇」（To shock, terrify, or startle）＋「人」（People; the public）＋「听」（To listen or hear）＋「闻」（To hear; news or stories）
• Meaning: Describing something so shocking, cruel, or evil that it terrifies or appalls anyone who hears about it. It is specifically used for negative events like crimes, scandals, or historical atrocities.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「骇人听闻」 contains the following nuances:

• Nature of the Shock: This idiom is never used for positive surprises. It is strictly reserved for 'bad news' that evokes fear, horror, or disgust.
• Severity of Fact: It emphasizes that the event itself is extreme and violates common human decency or social norms.

3. Usage

「骇人听闻」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Crime and News Reporting: The most common usage, describing violent crimes, abuse, or corruption that shocks society.
  • Example:「警方公布了一起骇人听闻的虐待儿童案件。」
    （The police announced a hair-raising case of child abuse.）
• Historical Atrocities: Used when reflecting on war crimes, massacres, or other cruel historical events.
  • Example:「那场战争中发生了许多骇人听闻的暴行。」
    （Many appalling atrocities occurred during that war.）
• Scandals and Misconduct: Used for corporate or political scandals that are morally unacceptable.
  • Example:「这家公司为了利润竟然出售有毒食品，真是骇人听闻。」
    （It is truly shocking that this company sold toxic food just for profit.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这种骇人听闻的手段简直令人发指。
   （Such appalling methods are truly outrageous.）
2. 最近发生的一系列骇人听闻的恐怖袭击让市民感到不安。
   （The recent series of shocking terrorist attacks has left citizens feeling uneasy.）
3. 历史上那些骇人听闻的悲剧不应被遗忘。
   （Those horrific tragedies in history should not be forgotten.）
4. 这起骇人听闻的诈骗案涉及金额高达数十亿元。
   （The amount involved in this world-shaking fraud case reaches billions of yuan.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Usage Limits: Because 骇人听闻 (hài rén tīng wén) is a very strong term, it is not used for trivial daily surprises like a friend getting married or failing a test. It is reserved for events with significant social impact.
• Distinction from Similar Idioms: It is often confused with 耸人听闻 (sǒng rén tīng wén). While 骇人听闻 (hài rén tīng wén) refers to facts that are inherently shocking, 耸人听闻 (sǒng rén tīng wén) refers to the act of sensationalizing or exaggerating information to deliberately scare or incite people.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 触目惊心 (chù mù jīng xīn): A sight so terrible it shocks the heart; ghastly.link
  • 令人发指 (lìng rén fà zhǐ): To make one's hair stand on end with anger; hair-raisingly outrageous.
  • 惊心动魄 (jīng xīn dòng pò): To describe a scene or experience that is extremely thrilling and exciting.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 司空见惯 (sī kōng jiàn guàn): A common occurrence; something one is used to seeing.link
  • 平淡无奇 (píng dàn wú qí): Ordinary and unremarkable; nothing special.link
  • 不足为怪 (bù zú wéi guài): Not worth being surprised at.link

6. Summary

The idiom 骇人听闻 (hài rén tīng wén) is used to describe news or events that are so horrific they cause people to shudder. Unlike a simple surprise, this term carries a heavy weight of dread or moral outrage. It is a common descriptor in news reports for heinous crimes or massive scandals that shake the public's sense of security or morality.