驚く
おどろく
to be surprised, to be astonished
Odoroku (驚く) is a godan verb meaning "to be surprised, to be astonished". Its polite form is 驚きます (odorokimasu), its te form is 驚いて (odoroite), its past form is 驚いた (odoroita), and its negative form is 驚かない (odorokanai).
Godan verbJLPT N4
Odoroku (驚く) conjugation quick reference
驚く means "to be surprised, to be astonished". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Odoroku example sentences
彼の急な訪問に私は驚いた。
I was surprised by his sudden visit.
彼女が怖くないと言ったら、私は驚くでしょう。
If she says she's not scared, I'll be surprised.
彼はそのニュースを聞いて驚かなかった。
He wasn't surprised when he heard the news.
How to use Odoroku: grammar notes
•驚く usually uses the particle 「に」 to show what surprised you — for example, 「大きな音に驚きました」 means "I was surprised by the loud sound."
•Don’t use 「を」 after 驚く — it’s a common mistake; remember, it’s not something you "do" to an object, but a reaction "to" something (use 「に」 instead).
•You can also use 「と」 with 驚く when quoting or reacting to something someone said — for example, 「彼が来ると聞いて驚きました」 means "I was surprised to hear he was coming."
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Odoroku
音に驚く
Be startled by a sound
ニュースに驚く
Be surprised by the news
あまりの速さに驚く
Be amazed at the incredible speed
Odoroku (驚く) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 驚く | odoroku |
| Masu Form | 驚きます | odorokimasu |
| Te Form | 驚いて | odoroite |
| Past Form | 驚いた | odoroita |
| Negative Form | 驚かない | odorokanai |
| Past Negative | 驚かなかった | odorokanakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 驚きます | odorokimasu |
| Polite Past | 驚きました | odorokimashita |
| Polite Negative | 驚きません | odorokimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 驚きませんでした | odorokimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 驚ける | odorokeru |
| Passive Form | 驚かれる | odorokareru |
| Causative Form | 驚かせる | odorokaseru |
| Causative Passive | 驚かされる | odorokasareru |
| Volitional Form | 驚こう | odorokou |
| Imperative Form | 驚け | odoroke |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 驚けば | odorokeba |
| Conditional (たら) | 驚いたら | odoroitara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 驚いている | odoroiteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 驚きたい | odorokitai |
| Prohibition | 驚くな | odorokuna |