びっくり
びっくり
adverb
surprise, shock
1.
surprise, shock
To be surprised or startled.
びっくりした。
I was surprised.
びっくりさせないで。
Don't surprise me.
びっくりするほど大きい。
Surprisingly big.
急に後ろから声をかけられて、びっくりした。
Someone called out to me from behind suddenly, and I was startled.
友達がびっくりするような誕生日プレゼントを用意した。
I prepared a birthday present that would surprise my friend.
びっくり is a mimetic word (擬態語) expressing sudden surprise or shock. One of the most common ways to express surprise in Japanese.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- びっくりする: to be surprised
- びっくりさせる: to surprise someone
- びっくりするほど〜: surprisingly ~
- びっくり仰天: great astonishment (emphatic)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 驚く: to be surprised (more formal, written)
- びっくり: surprised (casual, conversational)
- ぎょっとする: to be startled, taken aback (stronger shock)
- はっとする: to realize with a start
WRITING:
Sometimes written as ビックリ (katakana) for emphasis. The kanji 吃驚 exists but is rarely used.
REGISTER:
Neutral to casual. Appropriate in most situations including polite speech: びっくりしました。
Related Words
Synonym:
驚く (to be surprised (formal))