BIKKU-RI びっくり
Meanings
・Surprise by an unexpected, sudden, or unexpected event.
Examples
・My son got a 100 on a test, which surprised me.
息子がテストで１００点をとって、びっくりした。
・I turned around and was surprised to see my wife.
振り返ったら妻がいてびっくりした。
Dogmatic Opinion
” ! ” is called “Bikkuri mark”.
It can be replaced with a fairly pure “surprised” meaning.
On the other hand, I am not surprised, but I am using it in the sense of praise or admiration.
In the case of “Ohtani surprised me by setting a new record.”
I don’t mean “I thought it couldn’t be done, but I was surprised it was done.”
I have a feeling it means something like, “I know Otani will accomplish this, and the greatness of his record achievement is astonishing.”
Proximate Expression
surprised
amazed
astonished
startled.
