びっくり・吃驚・喫驚bikkuri[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- suru verb, intransitive verb, adverbto be surprised; to be amazed; to be frightened; to be astonished; to get startled; to jump
- prenominal modifiersurprise (e.g. surprise party)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | びっくりする |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | びっくりします |
| Negative (nai) | びっくりしない |
| polite (masen) | びっくりしません |
| classical zu / nu | びっくりせず・びっくりせぬ |
| Past (ta) | びっくりした |
| polite (mashita) | びっくりしました |
| Past negative (nakatta) | びっくりしなかった |
| polite (masen deshita) | びっくりしませんでした |
| Te form | びっくりして |
| Potential | びっくりできる |
| Passive | びっくりされる |
| Causative | びっくりさせる |
| Causative passive | びっくりさせられる |
| Conditional (ba) | びっくりすれば |
| tara | びっくりしたら |
| Volitional | びっくりしよう |
| polite (mashou) | びっくりしましょう |
| Imperative | びっくりしろ |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym驚愕きょうがくWrittenWritten/formal word for extreme shock, as in 「驚愕の事実」; a stronger degree of surprise than 「びっくり」.
- Synonym驚きおどろきNeutralThe neutral noun for the feeling of surprise itself, as in 「驚きを隠せない」.
- Synonym仰天ぎょうてんWrittenA written word for being greatly startled, as in 「びっくり仰天」; the exaggeration is part of the effect.
- Related驚嘆きょうたんWrittenA written word for surprise mixed with admiration, as in 「驚嘆の声」; it carries praise, not just shock.
- Antonym平然へいぜんWrittenA written word for the opposite of 「びっくり」: calm and unbothered, as if nothing had happened.
- Antonym冷静れいせいNeutralA neutral word, also the opposite of 「びっくり」: calm, level-headed and composed.
In everyday speech, 「びっくり」 is the default. Use the noun 「驚き」 for the feeling of surprise, 「驚愕」 for extreme shock, 「仰天」 for being greatly startled, and 「驚嘆」 for surprise mixed with admiration. For the opposite—staying calm—choose 「冷静」 or 「平然」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
