Japanese Conversation · Level 51
90 words
Japanese word
驚く
Pronunciation
Romajiodoroku
Meaning
- verbbe surprised
Example
その音に驚きました。so no oto ni odoro ki ma shi ta
I was surprised by that sound.
More examples
彼女は急な質問にも驚きません。kano jo wa kyū na shitsu mon ni mo odoro ki ma se n
She is not surprised even by sudden questions.
Core concept
驚く (odoroku) expresses the sudden mental reaction that occurs when something falls outside one's expectations.
Common phrases
結果に驚くkek ka ni odoro ku
be surprised by the result
大きさに驚くō ki sa ni odoro ku
be surprised by the size
Similar words
びっくりするbikkurisuru: To feel sudden surprise in a casual, everyday way.
Definition in Japanese
予想していなかった事柄に接して、意外に感じたり、強く心を動かされたりする。yo sō shi te i na ka tta koto gara ni ses shi te i gai ni kan ji ta ri tsuyo ku kokoro o ugo ka sa re ta ri su ru
Word origin
驚く (odoroku) is a native Japanese verb with an older recorded sense of "to awaken" or "to become aware"; the modern sense concerns a sudden reaction to the unexpected.
Usage tips
- In Japanese, the source of surprise is often marked by に (ni), so 音に驚く (oto ni odoroku) means that a sound causes the reaction.
Other meanings
- be amazedverb
- be shockedverb
Opposites
- 平気heikiunperturbedna-adjective
Related words
- 驚きodorokisurprisenoun
- 驚かすodorokasusurpriseverb