呆然
ぼうぜん
taru-adjective, adverb
dumbfounded, stunned, in a daze
See also:
茫然 (dazed, stunned (variant))
1.
dumbfounded, stunned, in a daze, stupefied
A state of being so shocked, surprised, or overwhelmed that one cannot think or react. Often describes standing or sitting motionless in disbelief.
彼は呆然と立ち尽くした。
He stood there dumbfounded.
突然の知らせに呆然とした。
I was stunned by the sudden news.
火事で家を失った人たちが、焼け跡の前で呆然と立っていた。
The people who had lost their homes in the fire stood dazed in front of the burned remains.
GRAMMAR:
Taru-adjective. Used adverbially as 呆然と (in a daze) or attributively as 呆然たる (dazed). The adverbial form 呆然と is far more common.
USAGE:
Almost always paired with physical descriptions of immobility: 立ち尽くす (to stand rooted), 座り込む (to collapse into sitting), 見つめる (to stare).
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 茫然: same pronunciation and very similar meaning; the two are often interchangeable. 茫然 may emphasize a more blank, vacant feeling.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 呆然と立ち尽くす: to stand rooted in shock
- 呆然とする: to be dumbfounded
- 呆然自失: stupefied, in a state of shock