瞠目结舌 chēng mù jié shé speechless and dumbfounded

Explanation

形容因惊骇、窘迫等说不出话来的样子。

Describes the state of being speechless due to shock, embarrassment, etc.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有个秀才去参加科举考试。考场上，题目一出，秀才们纷纷下笔，唯有这位秀才对着试卷发愣。他绞尽脑汁，也想不出一个字来，急得满头大汗，最后，他竟然吓得瞠目结舌，卷子一片空白。考官见他如此窘迫，不禁摇头叹息。从此，这个秀才便成了大家茶余饭后的笑谈，被人们用来形容那些因紧张而不知所措的人。

huì shuō táng cháo shí qī, yǒu gè xiù cái qù cān jiā kē jǔ kǎoshì. kǎo chǎng shàng, tímù yī chū, xiù cái men fēn fēn xià bǐ, wéi yǒu zhè wèi xiù cái duì zhù shì juàn fā lèng. tā jiǎo jìn nǎo zhī, yě xiǎng bù chū yīgè zì lái, jí de mǎn tóu dà hàn, zuì hòu, tā jìng rán xià de chēng mù jié shé, juǎn zi yī piàn kòng bái. kǎo guān jiàn tā rú cǐ jiǒng pò, bù jīn yáo tóu tàn xī. cóng cǐ, zhège xiù cái biàn chéng le dà jiā chá yú fàn hòu de xiào tán, bèi rén men yòng lái xíng róng nà xiē yīn jǐn zhāng ér bù zhī suǒ cuò de rén.

It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, a scholar went to take the imperial examination. As soon as the questions were released, the scholars began to write their answers. However, this scholar just stared at the examination paper in a daze. He racked his brains but couldn't think of a single word. He was so anxious that he broke out in a cold sweat. In the end, he was so shocked and embarrassed that he was speechless and left his paper completely blank. Seeing his distress, the examiner shook his head and sighed. From then on, this scholar became the talk of the town, a cautionary tale for those who are too nervous to perform well under pressure.

Usage

常用来形容人因惊呆或窘迫而说不出话的样子。

cháng yòng lái xíng róng rén yīn jīng dāi huò jiǒng pò ér shuō bù chū huà de yàng zi.

Often used to describe someone who is so shocked or embarrassed that they are speechless.

Examples

  • 面对突如其来的问题，他吓得瞠目结舌，说不出话来。

    miànduì tū rú qí lái de wèntí, tā xià de chēng mù jié shé, shuō bù chū huà lái le.

    Faced with a sudden problem, he was so shocked that he was speechless.

  • 听到这个令人震惊的消息，他瞠目结舌，半天回不过神来。

    tīng dào zhège lìng rén zhèn jīng de xiāoxī, tā chēng mù jié shé, bàntiān huí bù guò shén lái le.

    Hearing the shocking news, he stared dumbfounded, unable to react for a long time.

  • 辩论会上，他被对手驳得瞠目结舌，无言以对。

    biànlùn huì shàng, tā bèi duìshǒu bó de chēng mù jié shé, wú yán yǐ duì.

    In the debate, he was so refuted by his opponent that he was speechless and unable to respond.

Related Idioms

  • 张口结舌

  • 目瞪口呆

  • 哑口无言

Opposite Idioms

  • 对答如流

  • 侃侃而谈