驚おどろく

お

ど

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く

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

驚く · godan verb (-ku)

Meanings

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

General expression for being surprised or amazed by something unexpected.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

Often implies a sudden, sometimes unpleasant surprise that can include fear or alarm.

〈事こと〉に驚おどろくto be surprised at something
彼かれの成せい功こうにみんな驚おどろいた。
Everyone was surprised at his success.
〈物もの〉を見みて驚おどろくto be startled upon seeing something
大おおきな蜘蛛くもを見みて驚おどろいた。
I was startled when I saw the big spider.
驚おどろいて〈動どう詞し〉startled, to do something (in reaction)
物もの音おとに驚おどろいて飛とび上あがった。
Startled by the noise, I jumped up.

驚おどろかすN2
驚く is the intransitive verb 'to be surprised', while 驚かす is its transitive counterpart 'to surprise someone'.

びっくりN4sense 1
びっくりする is a casual, everyday word for being surprised, while 驚く is slightly more formal and used in both speech and writing.
仰ぎょう天てん sense 1
仰天する describes a stronger, often exaggerated shock, whereas 驚く covers surprise of any intensity.
驚きょう愕がく sense 2
驚愕する is a formal, written-style word for intense astonishment, while 驚く is the common, everyday verb.
たまげる
驚く is the neutral, standard verb for 'be surprised', while たまげる is a colloquial, old-fashioned word for a stronger, more visceral shock.

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目めを丸まるくするN1
驚く is the plain, general verb for 'to be surprised', while 目を丸くする paints the visual image of eyes going round in astonishment.
驚おどろきN1
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.
ビビる
驚く is the plain, all-purpose word for being surprised, while ビビる (sense of being startled) is a slangy, often exaggerated way to say the same thing.
呆あきれるN2
驚く is a neutral word for being surprised, while 呆れる specifically implies the surprise comes with disappointment or exasperation.
愕がく然ぜん
驚く is the everyday, general verb for being surprised, while 愕然 is a stronger, more literary word for being utterly stunned.

The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 驚 is conventionally associated with the meaning 'surprise'.