驚(おどろ)く

おどろく
verb (godan)
to be surprised
1. to be surprised, to be astonished
To experience a sudden feeling of wonder or shock due to something unexpected.
その知(し)らせに驚(おどろ)いた。
I was surprised by the news.
に marks the cause of surprise
彼(かれ)の成功(せいこう)に驚(おどろ)きました。
I was astonished by his success.
驚(おどろ)くほど安(やす)かった。
It was surprisingly cheap.
驚(おどろ)くほど = to a surprising degree

TRANSITIVITY: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive). Pair: 驚(おどろ)かす (transitive, to surprise someone). Pattern: Xに驚(おどろ)く (be surprised at X).

ASPECT: ている indicates resulting state. 驚(おどろ)いている = 'is surprised' (in a state of surprise).

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • Xに驚(おどろ)く (be surprised at X)
  • 驚(おどろ)くほど (surprisingly, to a surprising degree)
  • 驚(おどろ)くべき (surprising, astonishing—attributive)
  • 驚(おどろ)いたことに (to my surprise)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • びっくりする: more casual, sudden surprise
  • 驚(おどろ)く: general surprise/astonishment
  • 仰天(ぎょうてん)する: extreme shock (more dramatic)

Related Words

Pair verb: 驚(おどろ)かす (transitive, to surprise someone)
general
Added 2026.1.8 21:41 · Revised 2026.1.20 13:03
01000/01255_odoroku