呆(あき)れ返(かえ)る

あきれかえる

verb (godan)

to be utterly dumbfounded; to be completely appalled

自動詞 intransitiveemotion

Conjugation

	Affirmative	Negative
Present	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)る	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)らない
Present polite	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)ります	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)りません
Past	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)った	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)らなかった
Past polite	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)りました	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)りませんでした
て form	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)って	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)らなくて
ている present	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)っている	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)っていない
ている polite	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)っています	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)っていません
ている past	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)っていた	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)っていなかった
ている past polite	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)っていました	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)っていませんでした
Conditional ば	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)れば	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)らなければ
Conditional たら	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)ったら	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)らなかったら
Volitional	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)ろう	—
Volitional polite	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)りましょう	—
Potential	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)れる	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)れない
Passive	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)られる	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)られない
Causative	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)らせる	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)らせない
Imperative	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)れ	呆(あき)れ返(かえ)るな

1. to be utterly dumbfounded; to be completely appalled

An intensified form of 呆(あき)れる, expressing extreme exasperation or disbelief at someone's behavior or a situation.

もう呆(あき)れ返(かえ)ったよ。

I'm completely dumbfounded.

あの発言(はつげん)には呆(あき)れ返(かえ)ってしまった。

I was utterly appalled by that remark.

何度(なんど)注意(ちゅうい)しても直(なお)らないので、周(まわ)りは呆(あき)れ返(かえ)っている。

No matter how many times he's warned, he doesn't change, so everyone around him is completely exasperated.

A compound verb formed from 呆(あき)れる (to be amazed/appalled) + 返(かえ)る (to return). The 返(かえ)る suffix intensifies the base verb, giving a sense of being so shocked that one is left speechless or unable to react. Always carries a negative connotation — expressing disgust, exasperation, or disbelief rather than positive surprise.

Common collocations

呆(あき)れ返(かえ)って物(もの)も言(い)えない: so appalled one can't even speak
呆(あき)れ返(かえ)った顔(かお): a look of utter disbelief
呆(あき)れ返(かえ)ってしまう: to end up completely dumbfounded

Similar words

呆(あき)れる: to be amazed, appalled — the base form; less intense
唖然(あぜん)とする: to be stunned — focuses on speechlessness from shock
開(あ)いた口(くち)が塞(ふさ)がらない: to be left open-mouthed — an idiom expressing extreme shock or disbelief

Common patterns

The ～返(かえ)る pattern is a productive compound verb suffix meaning "to do something to an extreme degree" or "all the way back." Other examples include 繰(く)り返(かえ)す (to repeat) and 振(ふ)り返(かえ)る (to look back).

Related Words

Compare: 呆(あき)れる (to be amazed, appalled)

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Added 2026.4.8 1:34 · Revised 2026.9.15 5:59

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