驚く

• Reading: おどろく
• Romaji: odoroku
• Kanji breakdown: 驚 (kyou/odoro) — surprise, be astonished
• Pronunciation: /o.do.ɾo.kɯ/

Meaning

To be surprised; to be astonished; to be startled. Describes the feeling of unexpected shock.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the く row. Intransitive — you experience the surprise. The te-form 驚いて is very common. Often used with びっくりする as a near-synonym, though 驚く sounds slightly more literary.

Examples

1. テストの結果を見て驚きました。 I was surprised when I saw my test results.
2. 彼が日本語を話せると聞いて驚いた。 I was surprised to hear that he can speak Japanese.
3. 朝起きたら雪が降っていて驚いた。 When I woke up in the morning, it was snowing and I was surprised.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, reactions, storytelling

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 驚 combines 馬 (horse) and 敬 (respect/awe). A startled horse rearing up conveys the sense of sudden surprise or alarm.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal