触目惊心
- Literal
- touching the eyes, startling the heart
- Figurative
- So shocking to look at that it sends a chill through you; used of scenes, damage, or figures so grim they are hard to take in.
Where does 触目惊心 come from?
It doesn't come from any particular story: the image is of something that "touches the eyes" (触目, what leaps to view) and in the same instant "startles the heart" (惊心). It describes not a sudden fright but the deep impression left by seeing something grave: ruins after an earthquake, a wound, a polluted river, or an alarming figure in a report. It is common in news writing and in warnings. It should not be confused with 惊心动魄, which is about the thrill of something you live through, like a close match or an adventure.
How is 触目惊心 used? Two examples
- 地震过后，街道上的景象触目惊心。
After the earthquake, the scene in the streets was harrowing.
- 体检报告上的数字触目惊心，他终于决定戒烟了。
The numbers in his medical report were alarming, and he finally decided to quit smoking.
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