骇人听闻

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: hài rén tīng wén
• English Translation: Shocking, horrifying, appalling, dreadful
• Idiom Composition: 「骇」（To frighten, to shock）＋「人」（People）＋「听」（To hear）＋「闻」（To listen, to be informed）
• Meaning: An event or news that greatly shocks and frightens those who hear it. It refers to situations that are extremely cruel, tragic, or abnormal, causing people to be deeply shaken.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「骇人听闻」 contains the following nuances:

• Strong impact: Refers to events or news that deliver a strong shock to listeners, evoking fear or anxiety.
• Abnormality: Suggests that the event is abnormal and extreme, beyond what is normally conceivable.
• Seriousness: Implies that the event goes beyond mere surprise and involves social or ethical issues.
• Negative evaluation: Often includes a negative or critical perspective towards the event or news.

3. Usage

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

• Describing incidents or accidents: Used to describe events such as crimes, disasters, or accidents that cause great shock to people.
  • Example:「这起骇人听闻的凶杀案震惊了全国。」
    （This horrifying murder case shocked the entire nation.）
• Pointing out social issues: Used to highlight serious social problems or ethically problematic behaviors.
  • Example:「这家工厂排放的有毒物质造成了骇人听闻的环境污染。」
    （The toxic substances discharged by this factory caused appalling environmental pollution.）
• News and reporting: Often used by media outlets when reporting shocking news.
  • Example:「电视台报道了一起骇人听闻的虐童事件。」
    （The TV station reported a shocking child abuse case.）

Additional Examples:

1. 这起恐怖袭击事件骇人听闻，造成了大量人员伤亡。
   （This terrorist attack was horrifying, causing many casualties.）
2. 他所讲述的战争经历骇人听闻，让人难以想象当时的残酷。
   （The war experiences he described were appalling, making it hard to imagine the cruelty at that time.）
3. 这起骇人听闻的医疗事故，让人们对医疗安全产生了质疑。
   （This shocking medical accident caused people to question healthcare safety.）
4. 那个邪教组织的所作所为骇人听闻，简直令人发指。
   （The actions of that cult were horrifying and utterly outrageous.）
5. 这部电影中描述的酷刑场面骇人听闻，让观众感到极度不适。
   （The torture scenes depicted in this movie were shocking, causing extreme discomfort to the audience.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• '骇人听闻' is a very strong expression and is not commonly used in everyday conversation.
• It is mainly used in formal contexts such as news reports, official documents, or literary works.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 令人发指 (lìng rén fà zhǐ): So outrageous that it makes one's hair stand on end; utterly outrageous.
  • 触目惊心 (chù mù jīng xīn): So shocking and distressing that what one sees causes deep pain; gruesome.
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 平淡无奇 (píng dàn wú qí): Ordinary and unremarkable.
  • 习以为常 (xí yǐ wéi cháng): Used to something and consider it normal; accustomed.

6. Summary

'骇人听闻' is an idiom used to describe shocking events or news that greatly astonish and frighten those who hear them. When using this term, it is important to carefully consider whether the event truly warrants being called '骇人听闻'—that is, whether it is serious and abnormal. Because it is a very strong expression, attention should be paid to the context and situation in which it is used.