Japanese has many short, expressive words for reacting to surprising news or unexpected situations. In this article, we introduce 13 real reactions from the Fun Fun Nihongo video — simple and natural expressions you can use instantly in daily life.
目次
This article is based on a video by Fun Fun Nihongo, our Japanese learning content series.
13 Japanese Expressions for Showing Surprise
Here are 13 common ways Japanese speakers react when they’re surprised, shocked or can’t believe what they’ve just heard.
えっ？
- E?
What?
A very short and common reaction when you hear something unexpected. When stretched out as “えーーー！”, it sounds more dramatic or shows disbelief.
うわ！
- Uwa!
Whoa!
Used when something is shocking, overwhelming or visually surprising.
うそ！
- Uso!
No way!
Literally means “lie,” but it’s often used like “You’re kidding!” and is very common among friends. A softer, playful variation is “Usso dā!” (うっそだー！), often heard in casual conversations.
マジで？
- Maji de?
Seriously!?
A casual reaction common among young people. Similar to “Are you serious?” You may also hear the shorter form “Maji?” (まじ？), which has the same meaning.
すごい！
- Sugoi!
Wow!
Used for positive surprise or admiration. It’s extremely common in daily conversation. Shorter and sharper versions like “Sugo!” (すごっ！) make the reaction stronger, while “Sugosugiru!” (すごすぎる！) expresses an even higher level of amazement.
ほんとに？
- Honto ni?
Really?
A soft and natural reaction often used in casual conversation when you want to confirm something surprising.
やば！
- Yaba!
That’s crazy!
A shorter form of “Yabai!” (やばい！), this slang expression has many meanings — good, bad, shocking or exciting depending on the context.
まさか！
- Masaka!
Unbelievable!
Used when something seems too unexpected to be true.
びっくりした！
- Bikkuri shita!
I’m shocked!
Literally means “I was surprised!” Often used when something has startled you.
なんで？
- Nande?
Why?
A natural reaction when you want to know the reason behind something surprising.
ありえない！
- Arienai!
It can’t be!
Used when something feels impossible, unreasonable or hard to accept.
そんな、ばかな！
- Sonna, bakana!
Oh, no, that’s ridiculous!
A dramatic expression that sounds old-fashioned or exaggerated. It’s often heard in anime or humorous situations rather than in everyday conversation.
信じられない！
- Shinjirarenai!
Unbelievable!
A strong reaction to something you truly can’t accept or believe.
Quick Tip
These reactions are short, expressive, and heavily dependent on tone. Even simple words like E? or Uso! can sound soft, confused, excited or shocked, depending on how you say them. Listening to native speakers and copying their rhythm will make your reactions sound much more natural.
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Performer, Fun Fun NihongoKotone is a Tokyo University of Foreign Studies graduate, where she majored in Philippine Studies. After studying abroad in Brunei and interning at a startup in Malaysia, she now works as a model while continuing to explore the world.
X (Formerly Twitter): @kotonefromjapan
