taken by surprise; caught off guard
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
taken by surprise; caught off guard
formalDescribes a situation or event that happens so suddenly one has no time to prepare or react. Often used in written or formal narrative contexts.
Zhè这
chǎng场
bào暴
yǔ雨
lái来
de得
cù猝
bù不
jí及
fáng防
，
hěn很
duō多
rén人
dōu都
bèi被
lín淋
shī湿
le了
。
The heavy rain came so suddenly that many people were caught off guard and got soaked.
Duì对
shǒu手
yī一
gè个
tū突
rán然
de的
biàn变
xiàng向
ràng让
tā他
cù猝
bù不
jí及
fáng防
，
qiú球
jiù就
jìn进
le了
。
The opponent's sudden change of direction caught him completely off guard, and the ball went in.
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Gōng公
sī司
tū突
rán然
xuān宣
bù布
cái裁
yuán员
，
yuán员
gōng工
men们
dōu都
gǎn感
dào到
cù猝
bù不
jí及
fáng防
。
The company suddenly announced layoffs, leaving the employees feeling completely taken by surprise.
Zhè这
gè个
xiāo消
xi息
duì对
tā她
dǎ打
jī击
hěn很
dà大
，
tā她
wán完
quán全
cù猝
bù不
jí及
fáng防
。
This news hit her hard; she was completely caught off guard.