惊弓之鸟 jīng gōng zhī niǎo — a badly frightened person; a bird that starts at the mere twang of a bowstring

惊弓之鸟
jīng gōng zhī niǎo

Characters: 惊 · 弓 · 之 · 鸟

Definitions

  1. a badly frightened person; a bird that starts at the mere twang of a bowstring

More definitions

CC-CEDICT

  1. (lit.) a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow (idiom)
  2. (fig.) sb who frightens easily, due to past experiences

ExtDict

  1. 被弓箭吓怕了的鸟不容易安定。比喻经过惊吓的人碰到一点动静就非常害怕。

Examples

  • 被骗子骗过一次后，他如今成了惊弓之鸟。

    After being scammed once, he is now like a bird that starts at the twang of a bowstring.

  • 逃犯听到警笛声，便如惊弓之鸟般四处逃窜。

    Hearing the siren, the fugitive fled in all directions like a terrified bird.