wonder

驚異、素晴らしいもの

並外れて見事だったり美しかったりする人やもの。

やさしい英語で： A person or thing that is unusually impressive or beautiful.

• This garden is a wonder.
• She is a wonder with young children.
• We explored the natural wonders of the island.

類義語： marvel

よく使う表現： natural wonder, ancient wonder, a real wonder, wonders of nature

奇跡、驚き

あまりに思いがけなく起こり、説明が難しい出来事。

やさしい英語で： Something that happens so unexpectedly that it is difficult to explain.

• It’s a wonder we arrived on time.
• It was a wonder that nobody got hurt.
• No wonder he was angry about the missing money.

使い方： it is a wonder (that)… (It is a wonder that the old car still runs.); no wonder (that)… (No wonder she was tired after such a long journey.)

類義語： miracle, surprise

よく使う表現： a wonder that, little wonder, no wonder

謎、不思議

理解しにくく、思わず立ち止まって考えてしまうこと。

やさしい英語で： Something difficult to understand that makes you stop and think.

• His sudden departure remains a wonder.
• It is a wonder why she kept that broken clock.
• How they found us is still a wonder.

使い方： it is a wonder why/how… (It is a wonder why nobody noticed the mistake.)

類義語： mystery, puzzle

よく使う表現： a wonder why, a wonder how, remain a wonder

疑問に思う、気になる

知りたい、理解したいという気持ちから、あることを考えること。

やさしい英語で： To think about something because you want to know or understand it.

• I wonder where she is.
• He wondered why the train was late.
• Do you ever wonder about life on other planets?

使い方： wonder about someone/something (I often wonder about my old school friends.); wonder + question word + clause (She wondered where he had gone.); wonder if/whether… (I wonder whether the shop is open.)

類義語： ask oneself, be curious

よく使う表現： wonder about something, wonder why, wonder what happened

疑問に思う、気になる

答えを知りたくて、自分の中である問いについて考えること。

やさしい英語で： If you do this, you think about a question because you want to know the answer.

• I wonder where my keys are.
• She wondered if we needed more bread.
• Have you ever wondered how birds find their way home?

使い方： wonder about someone/something (I wonder about the people who lived here.); wonder if/whether… (She wondered whether the shop was open.); wonder why/how/what… (I wonder why he left so early.)

類義語： ask yourself, ponder

よく使う表現： wonder about something, wonder why, wonder whether

伺う、尋ねる

可能かどうか気になっているという言い方で、丁寧に頼んだり提案したりすること。

やさしい英語で： To politely ask for help or make a suggestion by saying you are thinking about the possibility.

• I wonder if you could help me.
• We wondered whether you would like to join us.
• I was wondering if I could borrow your pen.

使い方： wonder if/whether someone could/would… (I wonder if you could open the window.); was wondering if/whether… (I was wondering whether we could meet tomorrow.)

よく使う表現： wonder if, wonder whether

驚嘆する、感嘆する

何かに強く驚いたり、すばらしいと感じたりすること。

やさしい英語で： If you do this, you feel very surprised or impressed by something.

• I wonder at her patience.
• They wondered at the size of the ancient trees.
• Who could see those mountains without wondering at their beauty?

使い方： wonder at something (We wondered at the beauty of the night sky.)

類義語： marvel, be amazed

よく使う表現： wonder at something, wonder in silence

驚かない

否定形で、予想どおりなので驚かないことを表す。

やさしい英語で： If you say you do not feel surprised by something, you think it was expected.

• I don't wonder you're tired.
• We didn't wonder that he refused.
• I don't wonder she was angry after waiting so long.

使い方： not wonder (that)… (I don't wonder that she left after that argument.)

類義語： be unsurprised

よく使う表現： not wonder that, not wonder someone