驚嘆

• Reading: きょうたん
• Romaji: kyōtan
• Kanji breakdown: 驚 (kyō) — surprise; 嘆 (tan) — sigh, deep admiration
• Pronunciation: /kʲo.ː.ta.ɴ/

Meaning

Amazement; admiration; wonder. A sense of being struck with awe and deep admiration at something extraordinary.

A noun and suru-verb (驚嘆する) combining surprise with heartfelt admiration. Unlike 驚愕, which emphasises shock and can be negative, 驚嘆 is typically positive — an awed appreciation of brilliance, beauty, or skill. Common in formal criticism, travel writing, and literary contexts.

Examples

1. その職人の技に、見学者たちは驚嘆の声を上げた。 The visitors let out gasps of amazement at the craftsman's skill.
2. 大自然の壮観な景色に、思わず驚嘆した。 I couldn't help but marvel at the magnificent scenery of nature.
3. 彼の記憶力の良さに、周囲は驚嘆せずにはいられなかった。 Everyone around him was in awe of his remarkable memory.

Usage Guide

Context: art criticism, travel writing, literary narration

Tone: admiring

Origin & History

From 驚 (kyō) meaning 'surprise' and 嘆 (tan) meaning 'to sigh' or 'to admire deeply.' The compound captures the speechless sigh of awe in the face of something extraordinary.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal