吓我一跳
xià wǒ yí tiào
You startled me · trad. 嚇我一跳
吓我一跳 (xià wǒ yí tiào) is an exclamation used when something or someone unexpectedly frightens or surprises you, causing a sudden physical reaction. It conveys being startled.
What does 吓我一跳 (xià wǒ yí tiào) mean?
吓我一跳 (xià wǒ yí tiào) means “you startled me” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “scared me a jump.”
When to use it
Neutral and commonly used in everyday conversation. It's a spontaneous reaction, often accompanied by a slight jump or a hand to the chest.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “shyah-WUH-yee-tee-OW.” The “yi” in “yí tiào” is usually said with a rising tone before “tiào,” which is a falling tone.
Other ways to say it
- 吓死我了xià sǐ wǒ leYou scared me to death! (more intense)
- 吓了一跳xià le yí tiàowas startled (descriptive)
- 吓人一跳xià rén yí tiàoto startle someone
Examples
你突然出现，吓我一跳！
nǐ tūrán chūxiàn, xià wǒ yí tiào!
You suddenly appeared and startled me!
这声音真大，吓我一跳。
zhè shēngyīn zhēn dà, xià wǒ yí tiào.
This sound was so loud, it startled me.
她开玩笑地拍了我一下，吓了我一跳。
tā kāi wánxiào de pāi le wǒ yí xià, xià le wǒ yí tiào.
She playfully patted me, which gave me a start.
Pro tip: Expressing “吓我一跳” often comes with a natural physical reaction, such as a slight jump or placing a hand on your chest, to emphasize the sudden surprise.
Related phrases
太可惜了 · What a pity真遗憾 · That's a shame真倒霉 · What bad luck
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