A1 Idiom 중립

a bocca aperta

With mouth open

Surprised or amazed.

🌍

문화적 배경

In Baroque art, artists like Bernini often sculpted figures with slightly open mouths to convey 'affetti' (emotions), particularly awe or divine inspiration. While 'a bocca aperta' is a common idiom, literally eating with your mouth open is considered very rude in Italy ('maleducazione'). In Naples, people might use even more dramatic gestures alongside the phrase, like touching the chin or widening the eyes significantly. On Italian social media, the 'shocked face' emoji 😲 is often captioned with 'A bocca aperta' in reaction videos.

💡

Use it for travel

This is the #1 phrase to use when talking about Italian art and architecture. It makes you sound very appreciative!

⚠️

Don't pluralize

Even if you are talking about 100 people, it is always 'a bocca aperta', never 'a bocche aperte'.

Surprised or amazed.

💡

Use it for travel

This is the #1 phrase to use when talking about Italian art and architecture. It makes you sound very appreciative!

⚠️

Don't pluralize

Even if you are talking about 100 people, it is always 'a bocca aperta', never 'a bocche aperte'.

🎯

Pair with 'rimanere'

While 'essere' works, 'rimanere' sounds much more natural and idiomatic to native ears.

셀프 테스트

Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'rimanere' or 'lasciare'.

Il concerto è stato bellissimo! Io ________ a bocca aperta.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: sono rimasto

Since 'I' (Io) am the one who is surprised, we use 'rimanere' with the auxiliary 'essere'.

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the correct plural usage.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Siamo rimasti a bocca aperta.

The idiom 'a bocca aperta' is a fixed expression and does not change to plural.

What would Maria say in this situation?

Maria sees a surprise party for her. She says: 'Grazie! Questo regalo mi...'

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: lascia a bocca aperta

The gift (regalo) is the thing doing the surprising, so we use 'lasciare'.

Match the reaction to the situation.

Situation: You see a 5-year-old child playing the piano like a professional.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Resto a bocca aperta per il suo talento.

This is a classic situation of amazement where the idiom fits perfectly.

🎉 점수: /4

시각 학습 자료

연습 문제 은행

4 연습 문제
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'rimanere' or 'lasciare'. Fill Blank A1

Il concerto è stato bellissimo! Io ________ a bocca aperta.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: sono rimasto

Since 'I' (Io) am the one who is surprised, we use 'rimanere' with the auxiliary 'essere'.

Which sentence is correct? Choose A2

Choose the correct plural usage.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Siamo rimasti a bocca aperta.

The idiom 'a bocca aperta' is a fixed expression and does not change to plural.

What would Maria say in this situation? dialogue_completion A2

Maria sees a surprise party for her. She says: 'Grazie! Questo regalo mi...'

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: lascia a bocca aperta

The gift (regalo) is the thing doing the surprising, so we use 'lasciare'.

Match the reaction to the situation. situation_matching A1

Situation: You see a 5-year-old child playing the piano like a professional.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Resto a bocca aperta per il suo talento.

This is a classic situation of amazement where the idiom fits perfectly.

🎉 점수: /4

자주 묻는 질문

4 질문

Yes, but it usually implies shock or disbelief rather than deep sadness. For example, 'Sono rimasto a bocca aperta per la sua bugia' (I was stunned by his lie).

Both are understood, but 'a bocca aperta' is the fixed idiomatic form. 'Con la bocca aperta' sounds more literal, like you are physically holding your mouth open for a dentist.

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss to describe a great result, or with your friends to describe a movie.

'Rimanere' is for the person feeling the surprise. 'Lasciare' is for the thing causing the surprise. 'Io rimango...' vs 'Il film mi lascia...'

관련 표현

🔄

Rimanere di stucco

synonym

To be thunderstruck or turned to stone by surprise.

🔗

Mozzafiato

similar

Breathtaking.

🔄

Senza parole

synonym

Speechless.

🔗

Sbalordito

similar

Astonished.

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