📖 Meaning
To tremble with fear and feel a chill in one's heart. It describes an extreme level of fright or terror that shakes a person to their core. Often used when someone is so afraid that their courage completely collapses.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Yuan dynasty dramatic work 'Chu Zhao Wang Shu Zhe Xia Chuan' (楚昭王疏者下船) from the anthology 'Gu Jin Za Ju' (古今杂剧). In the play, the fear of a ruined kingdom and broken city leaves one constantly trembling and chilled with dread. The expression vividly captures the physical sensation of overwhelming terror. It later appeared in classical novels such as Luo Guanzhong's 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'.
💡 Example Usage
敌军将领看到这惨烈的战场，不禁胆战心寒，连夜撤兵退走。
Seeing the brutal battlefield, the enemy commander was so terrified that he trembled and withdrew his troops under cover of night.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 胆战心寒
- Pinyin: dǎn zhàn xīn hán
- Literal Translation: gallbladder trembles, heart chills
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4