Translation guide
This guide covers how to express that something is extremely surprising, impressive, or hard to believe in Japanese. It focuses on natural adjectives, adverbs, and phrases that convey a sense of amazement or shock.
To describe something that is so surprising it is hard to believe, often in a positive or neutral sense.
A formal adjective meaning 'astonishing' or 'surprising'. It is often used in written language or formal speech.
彼の記憶力は驚くべきものだ。
His memory is astounding.
Literally 'unbelievable', this is a very common way to express that something is astounding or hard to believe. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts.
その景色は信じられないほど美しかった。
The scenery was astoundingly beautiful.
A verb meaning 'to be astonished' or 'to be flabbergasted'. It conveys a strong sense of shock or surprise.
そのニュースを聞いて仰天した。
I was astounded by the news.
An adjective meaning 'miraculous' or 'wondrous', often used for achievements or abilities that are astoundingly good.
彼女は驚異的なスピードで成長した。
She grew at an astounding speed.
Literally 'to doubt one's eyes', used when something is so astounding you can't believe what you're seeing.
その光景に目を疑った。
I couldn't believe my eyes at the astounding sight.
To express that something is so good or impressive that it leaves you amazed.
A very common adjective meaning 'wonderful', 'splendid', or 'magnificent'. It is the go-to word for expressing that something is astoundingly good.
彼の演奏は本当に素晴らしかった。
His performance was truly astounding.
A verb meaning 'to be overwhelmed' (by something impressive). It conveys being astounded by the scale or quality of something.
その美しさに圧倒された。
I was astounded by its beauty.
An adjective meaning 'splendid', 'magnificent', or 'brilliant'. It is often used to praise a performance or achievement.
Literally 'to hold one's breath', used for something so beautiful or impressive it takes your breath away.
To emphasize that an amount, number, or degree is astoundingly high or extreme.
An adjective meaning 'enormous', 'immense', or 'absurd'. It conveys that something is astoundingly large or extreme.
彼は途方もない金額を寄付した。
He donated an astounding amount of money.
A noun/adjective meaning 'on a different scale' or 'orders of magnitude different'. It emphasizes that something is astoundingly greater than usual.
A phrase meaning 'beyond imagination'. It is used for something so extreme it is hard to fathom.
想像を絶する苦しみだった。
It was an astounding amount of suffering.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'astounding'. Direct translations like '驚くべき' can sound too formal or literary in casual conversation. Choose the expression that best fits the context: surprise, impressiveness, or extreme degree.
驚くべき is more formal and often used in writing or news reports. 信じられない is more colloquial and can be used in everyday speech to express disbelief or amazement. For casual settings, 信じられない is usually a better fit.
It's an astounding piece of work.
息をのむような絶景だった。
It was an astoundingly breathtaking view.
彼の才能はけた違いだ。
His talent is astounding (on a different level).