驚おどろくべき

Meanings

A fixed prenominal expression (連体詞) meaning 'astonishing' or 'surprising'. It is used before nouns to express that something is remarkable or unexpected. It can carry a positive nuance like 'wonderful' depending on context.

彼かれは驚おどろくべき速はやさで問もん題だいを解かい決けつした。
He solved the problem with astonishing speed.
この美び術じゅつ館かんには驚おどろくべき作さく品ひんがたくさんある。
This museum has many amazing works of art.

Kanji

驚wonder, be surprised, frightened

Related words

恐おそるべき
驚くべき shares the same 〜べき literary construction as 恐るべき but focuses purely on surprise or amazement rather than fear.
驚きょう異い的てきN1
驚くべき is a more direct 'surprising/shocking' modifier, while 驚異的 stresses a sense of wonder at an extraordinary quality.
衝しょう撃げき的てきN2
驚くべき means 'astonishing' and can be positive or neutral, while 衝撃的 usually implies a stronger, unsettling or distressing shock.

Don't confuse with

驚おどろくほど
驚くべき is an adjective meaning 'surprising' that directly modifies a noun (驚くべき事実), while 驚くほど is an adverb meaning 'to a surprising degree' that modifies a verb or adjective.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 驚く (to be surprised) + the classical auxiliary べき (should/ought to), which functions as a fixed prenominal modifier meaning 'that should surprise one' → 'astonishing'.