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.
I was astounded to hear the news.
Very common casual expression for being surprised or startled. Often used in spoken Japanese.
I was astounded to receive a present.
Means 'to be flabbergasted' or 'astounded'. Stronger than 驚く, often used for shocking news.
I was astounded by his sudden resignation.
To be astonished in a negative way, often with a sense of being appalled or disgusted.
I was astounded by his irresponsibility.
Formal/literary term meaning 'to marvel' or 'be astounded' in admiration.
I was astounded by its beauty.
Expressing that something is so surprising you can hardly believe it.
Literally 'to doubt one's ears', used when you hear something astonishing.
I couldn't believe my ears at the news.
Literally 'to doubt one's eyes', used when you see something astonishing.
Means 'unbelievable'. Often used as an exclamation.
I can't believe something like this happened.
Expressing that you are so astonished you cannot speak.
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 couldn't believe my eyes at the sight.