Translation and Meaning of: 驚く - odoroku

If you are learning Japanese or are curious about the language, you may have come across the word 驚く (おどろく). It is often used in daily life and appears in various contexts, from informal conversations to animes and dramas. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, translation, and how it is perceived in Japanese culture. Additionally, we will see practical tips for memorizing it and usage examples that can help with your learning.

The meaning and translation of 驚く is "to be surprised" or "to be astonished."

The word 驚く is a Japanese verb that means "to be surprised," "to be amazed," or "to be startled." It expresses a reaction to something unexpected, whether positive or negative. In English, it can be translated as "to be surprised" or "to be astonished," depending on the context.

An interesting characteristic is that 驚く can be used for both good and bad situations. For example, someone can be surprised by an unexpected gift (positive) or by shocking news (negative). This versatility makes it a very useful word in everyday vocabulary.

The origin and writing of 驚く

The kanji 驚く is composed of two main elements. The upper radical, 敬 (kei), is related to "respect" or "reverence," while the lower part, 馬 (uma), means "horse." Some theories suggest that the combination represents the idea of a startled or impressed horse, reflecting the sense of surprise.

It is worth noting that 驚く is a verb from group 1 (godan), which means that its conjugation follows a specific pattern. For example, in the past form, it becomes 驚いた (odorokita), and in the negative form, it is 驚かない (odorokanai). Knowing this helps when it comes to forming sentences correctly.

How 驚く is used in everyday Japanese

In Japan, 驚く is a common word and appears in various situations. It can be used to express genuine reactions, such as when someone sees something impressive for the first time. It is also often found in expressions like 驚いた！(odorokita!), which is equivalent to "Wow!" or "Gee!" in English.

Additionally, this word frequently appears in animes, mangas, and dramas, especially in scenes of suspense or unexpected twists. If you consume Japanese content, you have probably heard it being used by characters surprised by some event.

Tips for memorizing 驚く

An effective way to memorize 驚く is to associate it with real surprise situations. For example, when you see something that impresses you, try to think "おどろく!" mentally. This type of contextual association helps to embed the word naturally.

Another tip is to practice with flashcards or apps like Anki, inserting phrases like "彼の才能に驚いた" (I was surprised by his talent). Repeating real examples strengthens memorization and correct usage in conversations.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 驚かす (odorokasu) - Cause surprise; surprise.
• びっくりする (bikkuri suru) - To be surprised; to get a shock.
• ショックを与える (shokku o ataeru) - To cause shock; to impress deeply.
• 驚愕する (kyougaku suru) - To be astonished; to be completely shocked.
• 仰天する (gyouten suru) - To be stunned; to be speechless.
• 唖然とする (azen to suru) - To be in a state of shock; to be speechless.
• 目を疑う (me o utau) - Doubt of one's own eyes; not believing what you see.
• 驚嘆する (gyoutan suru) - Deep admiration; to be amazed.
• 驚き呆れる (odoroki aoireru) - To be surprised to the point of being stunned.
• 驚きあきれる (odoroki akireru) - To be surprised and disappointed, usually by something unexpected.
• 驚き愕然とする (odoroki gakuzen to suru) - To be incredulous and shocked at the same time.
• 驚き落胆する (odoroki rakutan suru) - To be surprised and disappointed.
• 驚き困惑する (odoroki konwaku suru) - To be surprised and confused; perplexity.
• 驚き怒る (odoroki okoru) - To be surprised and irritated.
• 驚き悲しむ (odoroki kanashimu) - To be surprised and sad at the same time.
• 驚き感動する (odoroki kandou suru) - To be surprised and moved.
• 驚き喜ぶ (odoroki yorokobu) - To be surprised and happy.
• 驚き笑う (odoroki warau) - Be surprised and laugh, usually for fun.
• 驚き泣く (odoroki naku) - To be surprised and cry; to express intense emotion.
• 驚き驚きする (odoroki odoroki suru) - To be extremely surprised; reaction of multiple surprises.
• 驚き驚かされる (odoroki odorokasareru) - To be surprised; thermal of being under the effect of surprise.
• 驚き驚異する (odoroki doui suru) - To be surprised and dazzled; positive disbelief.
• 驚き驚愕する (odoroki gyoukaku suru) - To be surprised and completely astonished at the same time.
• 驚き (odoroki) - Surprise; act or state of being surprised.

驚く

Romaji: odoroku
Kana: おどろく
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: to be surprised

Meaning in English: to be surprised

Definition: - Feeling surprised by unexpected events or information.

Example Sentences - (驚く) odoroku

See below some example sentences:

驚くことが好きです。

Odoroku koto ga suki desu

I like to be surprised.

I like surprise.

• 驚く (odoku) - means "to surprise" or "to shock"
• こと (koto) - means "thing" or "subject"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 好き (suki) - means "like" or "appreciate"
• です (desu) - copulative verb that indicates to be or to be

新興国の経済成長は驚くべきものです。

Shinkōkoku no keizai seichō wa odoroku beki mono desu

The economic growth of emerging countries is surprising.

• 新興国 - developing country
• の - Possession particle
• 経済成長 - Crescimento econômico
• は - Topic particle
• 驚くべき - surprising
• もの - thing
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

現代はテクノロジーの進歩によって驚くべき変化を遂げています。

Gendai wa tekunorojī no shinpo ni yotte odorokubeki henka o togete imasu

The modern age has made incredible changes with technological advances.

• 現代 (Gendai) - means "current" or "modern"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• テクノロジー (tekunorojii) - a word borrowed from English meaning "technology"
• の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 進歩 (shinpo) - means "progress" or "advance"
• によって (ni yotte) - expression that indicates the cause or means by which something happens
• 驚くべき (odoroku beki) - adjective meaning "surprising" or "astonishing"
• 変化 (henka) - means "change" or "transformation"
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 遂げています (tasshite imasu) - verb meaning "to accomplish" or "to conclude" in the present progressive tense