fearful; terrified; too scared to move
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to stand with one foot directly behind the other; to be paralyzed with fear
literaryThis idiom vividly describes a person frozen in terror, literally meaning the hind foot stands right next to the front foot, not daring to take a step forward. Used primarily in formal or literary contexts.
Xiāo消
xi息
chuán传
lái来
，
jǔ举
guó国
shàng上
xià下
chóng重
zú足
ér而
lì立
，
rén人
xīn心
huáng惶
huáng惶
。
When the news arrived, the whole country was paralyzed with fear and public anxiety was high.
Zài在
nà那
wèi位
yán严
lì厉
de的
lǐng领
dǎo导
miàn面
qián前
，
yuán员
gōng工
men们
cháng常
cháng常
chóng重
zú足
ér而
lì立
，
bù不
gǎn敢
dà大
shēng声
shuō说
huà话
。
In front of that stern leader, the employees often stood in fearful silence, not daring to speak loudly.
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Miàn面
duì对
rú如
cǐ此
yán严
jùn峻
de的
jú局
shì势
，
lián连
tā他
yě也
gǎn感
dào到
chóng重
zú足
ér而
lì立
。
Faced with such a severe situation, even he felt too terrified to move.
Tā他
de的
wēi威
yán严
ràng让
zài在
chǎng场
suǒ所
yǒu有
rén人
dōu都
chóng重
zú足
ér而
lì立
，
jìn噤
ruò若
hán寒
chán蝉
。
His imposing dignity made everyone present stand petrified, as silent as cicadas in cold weather.