驚く vs 度肝を抜かれる
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 驚く
Listen to 度肝を抜かれる
| 驚く | 度肝を抜かれる |
|---|---|
o-DORO-ku verb | dokyō o nukareru verb |
| to be surprised; to be astonished | to be blown away; to be shocked beyond expectation |
How they differ
度肝を抜かれる is much more vivid and idiomatic than 驚く. It usually suggests that something is so unexpected or impressive that it leaves you speechless, and it can feel stronger, more colorful, or even slightly exaggerated.
When to use each
When to use 驚く: Use 驚く when you simply mean to be surprised without extra color or exaggeration.
When to use 度肝を抜かれる: Use 度肝を抜かれる when something shocks you in a memorable, dramatic way, especially in performance, style, or results.
Side-by-side examples
- その発表に驚いた。
(I was surprised by the announcement.) - その発表に度肝を抜かれた。
(I was completely blown away by the announcement.)
Register & nuance: 度肝を抜かれる is strongly idiomatic and expressive, so it sounds less neutral than 驚く and is common in vivid spoken or written Japanese.