taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
panic-stricken; alarmed; frightened (of the masses)
Rare literary yojijukugo describing a state where people's hearts are agitated and fearful, often used in historical or formal contexts to depict public panic or mass alarm.
With rumors of war, the people were panic-stricken and the town fell into chaos.
人心恟々たる有様で、誰も冷静ではいられなかった。
In a state of mass alarm, no one could remain calm.
人心 means 'human heart' or 'people's minds' in general, while 人心恟々 specifically describes a state of collective panic or alarm.
恐慌 is a more common word for 'panic' or 'economic crisis', whereas 人心恟々 is a rare literary expression focusing on the emotional state of the masses.
Rare yojijukugo; the 々 iteration mark is standard. The variant 人心恟恟 is also attested.
Alternate kanji form using 洶 instead of 恟; both are rare and literary.
Variant without the iteration mark; less common than 人心恟々.
Variant combining 洶 and repeated kanji; very rare.
A yojijukugo of Chinese origin, combining 人心 (people's hearts) with 恟々 (fearful, agitated). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it follows classical Chinese patterns for describing collective emotional states.