驚おどろき

お

ど

ろ

き

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

noun

surprise; astonishment; wonder; amazement

A sudden feeling caused by something unexpected or remarkable. Can be used for both positive and negative surprises.

彼かれ

の

突とつ

然ぜん

の

告こく

白はく

に

、

私わたし

は

驚おどろ

き

を

隠かく

せ

なかっ

た

。

I couldn't hide my surprise at his sudden confession.

そのニュースは世せ界かい中じゅうに大おおきな驚おどろきをもたらした。

The news caused great astonishment around the world.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉が驚おどろきを隠かくせないsomeone cannot hide their surprise
彼かれはその結けっ果かに驚おどろきを隠かくせなかった。
He couldn't hide his surprise at the result.
驚おどろきの声こえをあげるto let out a cry of surprise
みんな一いっ斉せいに驚おどろきの声こえをあげた。
Everyone let out a cry of surprise at the same time.
驚おどろきのあまり〈動どう詞し〉to do something out of sheer surprise
驚おどろきのあまり言こと葉ばを失うしなった。
I was so surprised that I lost the words to say.
驚おどろきに満みちた〈物もの〉something full of surprises
その旅たびは驚おどろきに満みちた体たい験けんだった。
That trip was an experience full of surprises.
〈事こと〉は驚おどろきだsomething is a surprise
彼かれが優ゆう勝しょうしたのは驚おどろきだった。
It was a surprise that he won the championship.

Kanji

驚wonder, be surprised, frightened

Related words· 8

驚おどろくN4
驚く is the verb meaning 'to be surprised', while 驚き is the noun form referring to the feeling or state of surprise itself.
びっくりN4
びっくり is a colloquial, onomatopoeic word for surprise often paired with する, while 驚き is a more neutral noun that works in writing and formal speech.
驚きょう愕がく
驚愕 describes a much more intense, often shocking astonishment, whereas 驚き can range from mild to strong surprise.
驚きょう嘆たん
驚嘆 combines surprise with admiration (being amazed at something impressive), while 驚き is neutral and can apply to bad news too.

Show 4 more

衝しょう撃げきN1
衝撃 emphasizes the jolting emotional or physical impact of an event, while 驚き focuses on the element of unexpectedness.
サプライズ
驚き is the plain native noun for the feeling or fact of being surprised, while サプライズ usually implies a planned, often pleasant, surprise event.
あっけN1
驚き is the general, everyday noun for surprise of any kind, whereas 呆気 specifically describes the stunned, deflated feeling when something anticlimactic happens.

Don't confuse with

おびえ
驚き is neutral surprise at something unexpected, while 怯え specifically carries the sense of fear or dread, not mere astonishment.

Word family

驚おどろき入いる
be astonished; be amazed

Written forms

驚おどろきUsage92%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency word in news and everyday contexts.
おどろきUsage6%
Kana spelling is common in casual writing, manga, and when emphasizing the emotional impact.
オドロキUsage1%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling used for stylistic emphasis, often in advertising or informal digital text.

Etymology

Noun form of the verb 驚く (おどろく), which is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 驚 combines 馬 (horse) and 敬 (respect/awe), suggesting the startled reaction of a horse.

仰ぎょう天てん

驚き is a neutral noun simply meaning 'surprise', while 仰天 implies a stronger, almost overwhelming shock.