驚かす

• Reading: おどろかす
• Romaji: odorokasu
• Kanji breakdown: 驚 (kyou/odoroki) — surprise, astonish, startle
• Pronunciation: /o.do.ɾo.ka.sɯ/

Meaning

To surprise; to startle; to astonish someone deliberately or inadvertently.

A Group 1 (godan) verb, the transitive counterpart of 驚く (to be surprised). Conjugates as 驚かさ-ない, 驚かし-ます. Used when the subject causes another person's surprise or astonishment. Often appears in contexts of unexpected revelations, startling acts, or impressive achievements that leave others speechless.

Examples

1. 彼は突然の告白で周囲の人々を驚かした。 He surprised everyone around him with his sudden confession.
2. その新発見は科学界全体を驚かすほどの画期的な成果だった。 The new discovery was a groundbreaking achievement that astonished the entire scientific community.
3. 子どもは大声を出して妹を驚かし、泣かせてしまった。 The child startled his little sister by shouting loudly and made her cry.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, storytelling, journalism

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Derived from 驚く (to be surprised) with the causative suffix かす. The kanji 驚 depicts a horse startled and rearing up, suggesting sudden fright or astonishment.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal