呆あきれる

あ

き

れ

る

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

be amazed; be dumbfounded; be exasperated; be fed up

Expresses being so surprised, shocked, or disappointed by something unreasonable or excessive that one feels dumbfounded, disgusted, or exasperated. Common patterns include ～に呆れる and 呆れてものが言えない.

彼かれの言いい訳わけには呆あきれた。
I was exasperated by his excuse.

あまり

の

無む

責せき

任にん

さ

に

呆あき

れ

て

、

何なに

も

言い

え

なかっ

た

。

I was so dumbfounded by the sheer irresponsibility that I could not say anything.

Written forms

呆あきれるUsage57%
Standard kanji spelling; this form is high priority.
あきれるUsage43%
Hiragana spelling is also understandable and encountered in everyday writing, especially when a softer or less kanji-heavy style is wanted.
惘あきれる
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji spelling; 呆れる is the practical modern spelling.

Kanji

呆be amazed, disgusted, shocked
惘unclear, be astonished

Similar words

驚おどろく
A broad word for being surprised; unlike 呆れる, it does not necessarily imply disappointment, disgust, or exasperation.
唖あ然ぜんとする
Means to be struck speechless or stunned; it overlaps with 呆れる when the reaction is dumbfounded silence, but has less of the fed-up or critical nuance.
うんざりする
Means to be sick of or thoroughly fed up with something; it is closer to fatigue and disgust, while 呆れる often starts from shock or disbelief.
感かん心しんする
Means to be impressed or to admire; it is usually positive, whereas 呆れる is commonly negative or critical despite glosses like 'be amazed'.

Etymology

A native Japanese verb written conventionally with 呆 for the sense of being dumbfounded or appalled. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.