舌(した)を巻(ま)く

したをまく
expression, verb phrase
to be amazed; to be astonished; to be left speechless
writtenexpression
1. to be amazed; to be astonished; to be dumbfounded
To be so impressed or surprised by someone's skill, achievement, or quality that one is left speechless. The idiom comes from the image of rolling one's tongue back in amazement, unable to speak.
舌(した)を巻(ま)くほどだった。
It was truly astonishing.
彼(かれ)の演奏(えんそう)には舌(した)を巻(ま)いた。
I was amazed by his performance.
その技術(ぎじゅつ)の高(たか)さに舌(した)を巻(ま)く。
I'm astonished at the high level of skill.
専門家(せんもんか)も舌(した)を巻(ま)くほどの知識(ちしき)だ。
The knowledge is so impressive that even experts are amazed.
彼女(かのじょ)の語学力(ごがくりょく)には誰(だれ)もが舌(した)を巻(ま)いた。
Everyone was astonished by her language skills.

Idiom origin

The expression literally means "to roll up one's tongue." It describes being so amazed or impressed that one is rendered speechless, as if the tongue has curled back.

Common patterns

〜に舌(した)を巻(ま)く - to be amazed at/by ~

  • 舌(した)を巻(ま)く (present)
  • 舌(した)を巻(ま)いた (past)
  • 舌(した)を巻(ま)くほど (to the extent of being amazed)

Usage

Always positive - used when impressed by excellence, skill, or achievement. Not used for negative surprises.

Similar words

Register

Neutral. Common in both spoken and written Japanese.

Related Words

Compare: 目(め)を見張(みは)る (to be wide-eyed with surprise)
Compare: 脱帽(だつぼう) (to take off one's hat)
core
Added 2026.1.19 17:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07000/07437_shitawomaku