How to say "shock" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe everyday word for emotional shock — the distress or stunned feeling caused by bad news, an accident, or a loss. This is usually what you want when 'shock' is a feeling.
- 衝撃しょうげきnounCovers both a physical impact and a powerful mental shock or jolt. It suits sudden, forceful events — a collision, or news that hits you hard — and often sounds stronger or more dramatic than ショック.
- 打撃だげきnounFor shock as a blow or damage — a setback that harms someone's position, finances, or morale, as in a business or team suffering a serious blow. Not the word for momentary surprise or a physical collision.
- 震動しんどうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbChiefly a physical sense: a tremor, vibration, or shock transmitted through something. It is rarely the word you want for emotional shock, where ショック or 衝撃 is the natural choice.
- 震撼しんかんnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbMeans to shake or shock in the sense of leaving people deeply shaken, typically society or a community rocked by a scandal or disaster. It is a strong, written-style verb, not an everyday word for personal shock.
Use 「ショック」 for emotional shock, 衝撃 for a physical or mental jolt, 打撃 for a damaging blow or setback, and 震動/震撼 mainly for shaking or being shaken rather than everyday 'shock'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- ショックshock (emotional)
- 衝撃しょうげきimpact
- 打撃だげきblow
- 震動しんどうshock
- 震撼しんかんshake
- 驚愕きょうがくastonishment
- 揺るがすゆるがすto shake
- 震盪しんとうshock
- 束ね積むたばねつむto shock (grain)
- ギョッshock
- 一泡ひとあわblow
- 震駭しんがいterror
- 震撼させるしんかんさせるto shake (e.g. the world)
- 震駭させるしんがいさせるto frighten
- 耳目を驚かすじもくをおどろかすto take by surprise
- 揺さぶるゆさぶるto shake (e.g. the political world)
See also
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