触目惊心

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: chù mù jīng xīn
• English Translation: Shocking to behold, horrifying to see, unbearable to look at
• Idiom Composition: 「触」（To touch, to come into contact with）＋「目」（Eye）＋「惊」（To be shocked, to be startled）＋「心」（Heart, mind）
• Meaning: Describes a scene so terrible that it shocks the viewer deeply. It expresses the strong emotional impact caused by witnessing tragic or horrifying events.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「触目惊心」 contains the following nuances:

• Strong shock: Indicates a profound mental shock caused by witnessing something extremely distressing.
• Fear and anxiety: Conveys feelings of fear and anxiety experienced when witnessing terrifying or tragic situations.
• Tragedy: Often used to describe tragic situations such as war, disasters, or accidents that are too dreadful to look at.
• Moral outrage: Sometimes used to express moral outrage towards social injustices or intolerable situations.

3. Usage

「触目惊心」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Describing tragic situations: Used to depict tragic situations such as wars, disasters, or accidents.
  • Example:「地震后的灾区景象触目惊心。」
    （The scene in the earthquake-stricken area was shocking to behold.）
• Referring to social issues: Used to highlight the severity of social problems such as poverty, environmental pollution, and crime.
  • Example:「这些工厂排放的污水，使周围的环境触目惊心。」
    （The wastewater discharged by these factories has made the surrounding environment unbearable to look at.）
• Expressing psychological state: Describes the shocked psychological state of someone who has witnessed something terrifying or tragic.
  • Example:「看到那场车祸的惨状，他感到触目惊心。」
    （Seeing the tragic scene of the car accident, he felt deeply shocked.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这部纪录片揭露了战争的残酷，画面触目惊心。
   （This documentary exposes the cruelty of war, and the footage is shocking to behold.）
2. 报纸上刊登的照片触目惊心，让人难以相信这是真的。
   （The photos published in the newspaper are unbearable to look at, making it hard to believe they are real.）
3. 那个地区的贫困状况触目惊心，急需外界的援助。
   （The poverty situation in that area is unbearable to look at, urgently needing outside assistance.）
4. 听到这个消息，每个人都感到触目惊心，不敢相信自己的耳朵。
   （Upon hearing the news, everyone was stunned and could hardly believe their ears.）
5. 这部小说中描写的场景触目惊心，让人读后心情沉重。
   （The scenes described in this novel are deeply shocking, leaving readers with a heavy heart.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• '触目惊心' is a phrase that conveys very strong emotions. Using it lightly may give an exaggerated impression.
• It is often used to objectively describe situations rather than personal opinions or feelings.
• This idiom is more commonly found in written language and is rarely used in everyday conversation.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 惨不忍睹 (cǎn bù rěn dǔ): Too terrible to bear to look at.
  • 目不忍视 (mù bù rěn shì): Unbearable to look at; wanting to turn one's eyes away.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 赏心悦目 (shǎng xīn yuè mù): Pleasant to the eye and soothing to the heart; visually pleasing.

6. Summary

'触目惊心' is an idiom expressing a strong shock upon witnessing tragic or horrifying scenes. Its vivid description leaves a deep impression on readers or listeners and powerfully conveys the seriousness of the issue. However, because it is a very strong expression, it should be used carefully considering the context and situation. Using this idiom appropriately can add impact and persuasiveness to your writing.