Translation guide
How to express the action of opening one's eyes wide in Japanese, from literal physical widening to figurative expressions of surprise or realization.
To physically widen one's eyes, often deliberately or as a natural reaction.
The most direct and natural way to say 'open one's eyes wide'. Used for deliberate actions or descriptions.
彼は驚いて目を大きく開けた。
He opened his eyes wide in surprise.
目を大きく開けて、遠くを見てください。
Please open your eyes wide and look into the distance.
A more literary or intense way to say 'open one's eyes wide', often implying shock, fear, or strong emotion.
恐怖で目を見開いた。
I opened my eyes wide in terror.
The verb itself, meaning 'to open one's eyes wide'. Often used in written narratives.
彼女は目を見開いて、叫んだ。
She opened her eyes wide and screamed.
To express that someone is so surprised their eyes widen, often used idiomatically.
Literally 'make one's eyes round', this is the most common idiom for opening one's eyes wide in surprise or wonder.
そのプレゼントを見て、子供は目を丸くした。
The child's eyes widened when they saw the present.
彼の話にみんな目を丸くした。
Everyone's eyes widened at his story.
Combines the literal phrase with the intense verb, emphasizing a strong physical reaction to surprise or shock.
突然の音に、彼は目を大きく見開いた。
At the sudden noise, he opened his eyes wide.
An idiom meaning 'one's eyes become dots', used when someone is so surprised they are speechless, often in manga or casual speech.
あまりのことに目が点になった。
I was so stunned my eyes turned into dots.
To express the moment of sudden understanding or awakening, often metaphorical.
Literally 'eyes wake up', this means to come to one's senses, realize the truth, or have an epiphany. Not about physically opening eyes.
彼の言葉で目が覚めた。
His words opened my eyes (made me realize).
現実に目が覚める。
Wake up to reality.
Passive form meaning 'to have one's eyes opened' by someone or something, leading to realization.
その本を読んで、目を開かれた思いがした。
Reading that book felt like having my eyes opened.
A biblical idiom meaning 'scales fall from one's eyes', used for a sudden realization or enlightenment.
その説明で目から鱗が落ちた。
That explanation was a real eye-opener.
How to instruct someone to open their eyes wide, e.g., during an exam or when applying eye drops.
Polite request to open one's eyes wide. Common in medical or everyday contexts.
目を大きく開けてください。
Please open your eyes wide.
Casual command 'open your eyes'. Can be used alone, but adding '大きく' makes it 'wide'.
目を開けて、前を見て。
Open your eyes and look ahead.
「目を大きく開ける」 is the everyday phrase for physically opening eyes wide. 「目を見開く」 is more intense and often used in literature or dramatic contexts to convey shock or fear.
医者が「目を大きく開けてください」と言った。
The doctor said, 'Please open your eyes wide.'
彼は恐怖で目を見開いた。
He opened his eyes wide in terror.
「目を覚ます」 means 'to wake up' (from sleep), not 'to open one's eyes wide'. Use 「目を大きく開ける」 for the physical action.
朝、目を覚ます。
I wake up in the morning.
目を大きく開けて、時計を見た。
I opened my eyes wide and looked at the clock.