战栗 (zhàn lì) — Chinese Word

verb HSK 6

Traditional 戰慄

zhàn lì

to tremble · to shudder · to shiver (with fear or cold)

Meaning

战栗 describes an involuntary physical trembling or shaking, typically caused by intense fear, cold, or strong emotion. It conveys a sense of deep, visceral reaction that is beyond one's control. The word carries a literary or formal tone and is often used in written Chinese or dramatic contexts.

Usage

This is a relatively formal or literary term, more common in written Chinese than everyday speech. In casual conversation, people are more likely to use simpler words like 发抖 (fā dǒu) or 哆嗦 (duō suo). 战栗 often appears in descriptions of fear, horror, or intense cold in novels, news reports, and formal writing.

Examples

01
她想起那个可怕的场景，不禁浑身战栗。
Tā xiǎng qǐ nàge kěpà de chǎngjǐng, bù jīn hún shēn zhàn lì.
Remembering that terrifying scene, she couldn't help but shudder all over.
02
寒风吹来，冻得他全身战栗。
Hán fēng chuī lái, dòng de tā quán shēn zhàn lì.
The cold wind blew, freezing him until his whole body trembled.

Characters

Common collocations

浑身战栗
hún shēn zhàn lì
to tremble all over
不禁战栗
bù jīn zhàn lì
to involuntarily shudder
令人战栗
lìng rén zhàn lì
to make one shudder

Antonyms

Origin

Both characters relate to trembling: 战 originally meant 'to fight' but extended to mean trembling in battle, while 栗 depicts shaking or shivering. Together they form a compound emphasizing involuntary shaking from fear or cold.