驚おどろくなかれ

Meanings

do not be surprised; lo and behold; wait for it

A set phrase used to preface a surprising or unexpected statement, often with a dramatic or rhetorical tone. Equivalent to 'believe it or not' or 'you won't believe this, but...'.

驚おどろくなかれ、彼かれはその試し験けんに満まん点てんを取とったそうだ。
Lo and behold, I heard he got a perfect score on that exam.
驚おどろくなかれ、この小ちいさな町まちに世せ界かい的てきな企き業ぎょうの本ほん社しゃがある。
Wait for it—this small town is home to the headquarters of a global corporation.

Kanji

驚wonder, be surprised, frightened
勿not, must not, do not
無nothingness, none, ain't

Related words

驚おどろく
The base verb meaning 'to be surprised'. 驚くなかれ is a fossilized prohibitive form of this verb, used as a set phrase rather than a productive conjugation.
なかれ
A classical prohibitive auxiliary meaning 'do not'. In modern Japanese, it is mostly limited to set phrases like 驚くなかれ or 言うなかれ.

Written forms

驚おどろくなかれ
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling; the most common written form.
驚おどろく勿なかれ
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 勿れ is an older kanji for the prohibitive なかれ.
驚おどろく無なかれ
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 無 is not standard for this word. Included for search coverage.

Etymology

From the classical prohibitive form of 驚く (odoroku, 'to be surprised') with the auxiliary なかれ (nakare, 'do not'). The phrase is a fixed expression in modern Japanese.