感嘆・感歎|かんたんkantan[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
感嘆感嘆 is the more common kanji spelling and the form beginners should use; choose it when writing this word in kanji.
感歎感歎 is a kanji-only variant that is rarely used, so learners will seldom encounter it and generally should not choose it for their own writing.
Definitions
- suru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveadmiration; wonder; astonishment
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 感嘆する（かんたんする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 感嘆します（かんたんします） |
| Negative (nai) | 感嘆しない（かんたんしない） |
| polite (masen) | 感嘆しません（かんたんしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 感嘆せず・感嘆せぬ（かんたんせず・かんたんせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 感嘆した（かんたんした） |
| polite (mashita) | 感嘆しました（かんたんしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 感嘆しなかった（かんたんしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 感嘆しませんでした（かんたんしませんでした） |
| Te form | 感嘆して（かんたんして） |
| Potential | 感嘆できる（かんたんできる） |
| Passive | 感嘆される（かんたんされる） |
| Causative | 感嘆させる（かんたんさせる） |
| Causative passive | 感嘆させられる（かんたんさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 感嘆すれば（かんたんすれば） |
| tara | 感嘆したら（かんたんしたら） |
| Volitional | 感嘆しよう（かんたんしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 感嘆しましょう（かんたんしましょう） |
| Imperative | 感嘆しろ（かんたんしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym驚嘆きょうたんWrittenWonder with a strong element of shock — more stunning and unexpected than 「感嘆」.
- Synonym感心かんしんNeutralEveryday word for admiring someone's conduct. 「感嘆」 is more literary and implies voicing admiration. 「感心」 can also mean being stunned or speechless.
- Synonym感服かんぷくWrittenHeartfelt admiration tinged with respect; more solemn than 「感心」, mostly said of people. It does not stress voicing admiration.
- Synonym嘆賞たんしょうWrittenTransitive: admiring a work or skill, as in 「作品を嘆賞する」. Written, rare. 「感嘆」 is intransitive (「美しさに感嘆する」), so syntax differs; no direct swap.
- Synonym嘆美たんびWrittenAdmiring praise and extolling; transitive. Extremely literary, virtually unused today. 「感嘆」 is intransitive, stressing being moved; everyday admiration is 「感心」.
- Synonym賛嘆さんたんWrittenDeep admiration voiced as praise; transitive, written and rare. 「感嘆」 is intransitive and more common, and can also mean lamenting; in speech use 「感心」.
- Synonym賞嘆しょうたんWrittenAdmiring praise; transitive, written and rare. Close to the admiration sense of 「感嘆」, but 「感嘆」 is intransitive, more common, and can also mean lamenting.
- Related賞賛しょうさんWrittenPraise or commendation: a positive evaluation of the object, not limited to public settings. 「感嘆」 focuses on being inwardly moved and voicing admiration.
- Related絶賛ぜっさんNeutralRaving praise with a promotional, evaluative flavor; also in 「絶賛上映中」. Not an inner outpouring of admiration.
- Related褒めるほめるNeutralThe everyday verb for complimenting or praising someone; it does not imply being deeply moved.
- Related尊敬そんけいNeutralRespect for someone's character — a lasting attitude, not a momentary outburst of admiration.
- Related嘉賞かしょうFormalCommending something as good; extremely formal and rare. It is about recognition and reward, not the moved exclamation of 「感嘆」.
- Related称揚しょうようWrittenPublicly extolling and proclaiming achievements; written and rare. The stress is on outwardly broadcasting merit.
- Related詠嘆えいたんWrittenGiving voice to emotion, as in poetry or as a grammar term for the exclamatory; not used in everyday speech.
- Related褒め称えるほめたたえるNeutralVerb: to praise lavishly, often extolling someone's achievements. The stress is on voicing the praise aloud.
- Related三嘆さんたんWrittenSighing in admiration again and again; mostly seen in the set phrase 「一読三嘆」 and rarely used alone.
- Related賞玩しょうがんWrittenSavoring or enjoying an object (or food) with appreciation; written and rare. The point is enjoyment, not admiration.
- Related褒め上げるほめあげるNeutralTo praise to the skies, with a touch of exaggeration. The focus is the act of praising, not an inner exclamation.
- Related賞美しょうびWrittenPraising and appreciating what is beautiful; written and rare. In daily life say 「褒める」.
- Related称えるたたえるNeutralVerb: to extol achievements or courage, as in 「勇気を称える」; common in speech too. It stresses public praise, while 「感嘆」 is more literary, about being moved to exclaim.
- Related賛するさんするWrittenTo agree or approve, or to inscribe a eulogy on a painting; seldom used in the sense of praising.
- Antonym軽蔑けいべつNeutralAntonym: to despise or look down on someone — the opposite of heartfelt admiration.
Everyday admiration of someone's conduct is 「感心」; to praise someone, 「褒める」. In written prose, being moved to voice admiration is 「感嘆」; with strong shock, 「驚嘆」. 「賞賛」 is general praise. Most others are rare literary praise terms (「嘆賞」「嘆美」「賛嘆」「賞嘆」「称揚」「嘉賞」「賞美」「賞玩」「三嘆」) or praising verbs (「褒め称える」「褒め上げる」「称える」). 「絶賛」 is rave, promotional praise; 「感服」 respectful admiration of a person; 「尊敬」 lasting respect; 「詠嘆」 poetic exclamation; 「賛する」 agreement; 「軽蔑」 contempt.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
