How to say "astonished" in Japanese

• 愕然がくぜん
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)Covers the core sense of 'astonished': a state of being shocked or astounded by something unexpected. Fits reactions to startling news or sights.
  あのニュースを聞きいた時ときにはがくぜんとした。↗

  When I heard the news I was caught with my pants down.
• びっくり仰天びっくりぎょうてん
  noun, suru verbAlso expresses astonishment, but with the stronger, more dramatic force of 'thunderstruck' or 'startled out of one's wits' — shock that overwhelms you completely.
  そのニュースに彼かれはびっくり仰天ぎょうてんした。↗

  The news took him by surprise.
• 憮然ぶぜん
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)Seldom the word you want for 'astonished': it describes disappointment and dejection, not surprise. Reach for it when someone is glum or disheartened, never when they are amazed.
• 目を回すめをまわす
  expression, godan verbUnlike the others, this is a verb phrase meaning to be astounded — the image is of one's eyes spinning. Use it when someone is utterly astounded by what happens.

For genuine astonishment, choose 愕然 for a stunned, shocked state and 「びっくり仰天」 for stronger, thunderstruck shock; 「目を回す」 is the verb phrase for being astounded, while 憮然 actually means disappointed, not astonished.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 愕然がくぜんastonished
• びっくり仰天びっくりぎょうてんastonished
• 憮然ぶぜんdisappointed
• 目を回すめをまわすto be astounded