唖然

• 読み: あぜん
• ローマ字: azen
• 漢字の分解: 唖 (a) — mute, unable to speak; 然 (zen) — in such a state, so
• 発音: /a.ze.ɴ/

意味

Dumbfounded; speechless; stunned; flabbergasted. Describes being rendered utterly speechless by shock or astonishment.

Typically used in the pattern 唖然とする or 唖然とした, expressing a momentary or sustained state of speechless disbelief. Often triggered by something outrageous, absurd, or wholly unexpected. Carries a nuance of stupefied incomprehension rather than simple surprise, and often implies a degree of dismay or disbelief at what one has witnessed.

例文

1. 突然の解雇通告に、社員たちは唖然として言葉を失った。
2. その大胆な発言に聴衆は唖然とし、しばらく沈黙が続いた。
3. 予算の桁が違うことを知り、彼は唖然とするばかりだった。

使い方ガイド

場面: daily life, journalism, narrative writing

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

From classical Chinese. 唖 (a) originally referred to being mute or unable to speak, 然 (zen) is a suffix meaning 'in such a manner' or 'in such a state.' Combined, they describe being rendered speechless by shock.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal