Translation guide
Expressing strong surprise or shock in Japanese. The most natural way depends on the degree of formality and whether the feeling is positive or negative.
Expressing that you are very surprised or shocked by something.
The most common and versatile verb for 'to be surprised/astonished'. Can be used in many contexts.
Expressing that something is so surprising you can hardly believe it.
Expressing that you are so astonished you cannot speak.
Literally 'to lose words', meaning to be at a loss for words due to shock.
あまりの出来事に言葉を失った。
I was so astounded by the incident that I was speechless.
驚く is slightly more formal and can be used in writing. びっくりする is more colloquial and often implies a sudden surprise. Both are very common.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'astounded' in all contexts. Using 驚く or びっくりする is usually sufficient. Overly strong words like 仰天する or 驚嘆する may sound dramatic if used in everyday situations.
I was astounded to hear the news.
Very common casual expression for being surprised or startled. Often used in spoken Japanese.
プレゼントをもらってびっくりした。
I was astounded to receive a present.
Means 'to be flabbergasted' or 'astounded'. Stronger than 驚く, often used for shocking news.
彼の突然の辞職に仰天した。
I was astounded by his sudden resignation.
To be astonished in a negative way, often with a sense of being appalled or disgusted.
彼の無責任さにあきれた。
I was astounded by his irresponsibility.
Formal/literary term meaning 'to marvel' or 'be astounded' in admiration.
その美しさに驚嘆した。
I was astounded by its beauty.
Literally 'to doubt one's ears', used when you hear something astonishing.
その知らせに耳を疑った。
I couldn't believe my ears at the news.
Literally 'to doubt one's eyes', used when you see something astonishing.
その光景に目を疑った。
I couldn't believe my eyes at the sight.
Means 'unbelievable'. Often used as an exclamation.
こんなことが起こるなんて信じられない。
I can't believe something like this happened.
To be dumbfounded or stunned, often with a blank expression.
彼はその結果に呆然とした。
He was astounded by the result and just stood there stunned.