frighten, surprise, startle
惊 centers on a sudden emotional jolt: being frightened, surprised, or startled by something unexpected.
惊 is the simplified form of 驚. The older form combines 馬 (horse) with 敬, suggesting a horse being startled. The modern form replaces the complex left side with the heart radical 忄, emphasizing the emotional reaction, while keeping 京 as a phonetic component.
The heart radical 忄 on the left shows an emotional state, and 京 on the right suggests a sudden loud noise in the capital. Imagine your heart jumping when a sudden shout surprises you in a busy city.
For リョウ, picture being startled by a sudden loud roar of a lion (ライオン -> リョウ) while walking through the capital. The lion's roar makes your heart jump.