Translation guide
The English word 'daze' describes a temporary state of confusion, disorientation, or inability to think clearly. In Japanese, this is expressed through nouns, verbs, and descriptive phrases that capture mental fog, shock, or absent-mindedness.
Describing a temporary inability to think clearly, often due to shock, fatigue, or overwhelming circumstances.
A noun or する-verb meaning 'daze', 'bewilderment', or 'being stunned'. Often used when someone is so shocked or overwhelmed that they can't think or react.
彼はその知らせに茫然とした。
He was dazed by the news.
茫然自失の状態だった。
I was in a state of daze and confusion.
A common phrase meaning to be spaced out, absent-minded, or in a daze. It implies a lack of focus or mental clarity, often due to tiredness or daydreaming.
寝不足でぼんやりしていた。
I was in a daze from lack of sleep.
彼は窓の外をぼんやり眺めていた。
He stared out the window in a daze.
A noun or する-verb meaning 'absent-mindedness', 'daze', or 'being in a trance'. It often describes a state of mental detachment or shock.
放心状態で座っていた。
I sat there in a daze.
Literally 'my head won't turn', meaning one's mind isn't working properly, often due to fatigue or confusion. Equivalent to being in a mental daze.
疲れすぎて頭が回らない。
I'm so tired I'm in a daze.
Causing someone to become dazed, often through a sudden shock, blow, or surprising event.
A causative phrase meaning 'to make someone dazed' or 'to stun'. It implies leaving someone speechless or unable to react.
その光景は彼を呆然とさせた。
The sight dazed him.
Causative form of ぼんやりする, meaning to cause someone to space out or become dazed, often through monotonous or tiring activity.
単調な作業が彼をぼんやりさせた。
The monotonous work dazed him.
Means to make someone dazed or groggy, often used for effects of drugs, alcohol, or a blow to the head.
その薬は意識を朦朧とさせる。
The drug dazes your consciousness.
Specifically describing the stunned, disoriented feeling after being hit on the head or suffering a concussion.
Literally 'eyes spin', meaning to feel dizzy or dazed, often from a physical impact or extreme situation.
頭を打って目が回った。
I hit my head and was dazed.
Onomatopoeic phrase for feeling dizzy or lightheaded, often used when dazed from a blow or standing up too fast.
パンチを受けて頭がくらくらした。
I took a punch and my head was dazed.
Describing the groggy, confused state caused by alcohol or drugs.
Means to be drunk and spaced out, in a daze from alcohol.
彼は酔ってぼんやりしていた。
He was in a drunken daze.
Describes a hazy, dazed state of consciousness, often from alcohol, drugs, or extreme fatigue.
酒に酔って意識が朦朧としている。
He's dazed and groggy from drinking.
茫然 (ぼうぜん) is more intense and often implies shock or emotional overwhelm, while ぼんやり is a milder, everyday daze like daydreaming or fatigue. Use 茫然 for stunned silence, ぼんやり for spacing out.
事故の後、茫然と立ち尽くした。
After the accident, I stood there in a daze.
授業中にぼんやりしていた。
I was in a daze during class.
English 'daze' is often used in phrases like 'in a daze'. Japanese rarely uses a single noun equivalent; instead, use adverbial forms like ぼんやりと or 茫然と, or verb phrases like ぼんやりする. Avoid direct translations like ダーズ.
彼は茫然としていた。
He was in a daze.
試験の後、ぼんやりと歩き回った。
I walked around in a daze after the exam.
大きな音でぼんやりしてしまった。
The loud noise left me dazed.
Medical term for 'concussion', often used to describe a dazed state after head trauma.
彼は脳震盪でしばらく呆然としていた。
He was dazed for a while from the concussion.