How to say "alarming" in Japanese

• 由々しいゆゆしいCommon
  i-adjectiveThe main choice for 'alarming' in the sense of gravely serious: a situation or matter so grave and serious that it alarms. A common word, and the one learners will usually want.
• 憂うべきうれうべき
  expressionCovers 'alarming' as worrisome: something that gives cause for worry or concern. The emphasis falls on the observer's anxiety rather than on the gravity of the matter itself. Less common than 由々しい.
• 寒心かんしん
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbIt means deplorable and alarming: the alarm is tinged with disapproval, as of something deplorable. A less common word, and seldom what you want when you simply mean 'alarming'.
• 由々しきゆゆしき
  prenominal modifierSame meaning as 由々しい — grave, serious, alarming — but essentially a variant form of that adjective. Since 由々しい is the common word, this less common form is rarely the one learners need.
• ただならぬ
  prenominal modifierIts core meaning is 'unusual, extraordinary, out of the ordinary'; it conveys 'alarming' when the alarm comes from something being distinctly not normal. Usually written in kana alone, and less common.

Choose 「由々しい」 for a grave, alarming situation, 「憂うべき」 for something worrisome, 寒心 for what is deplorable and alarming; 「由々しき」 is a less common variant of 「由々しい」, while 「ただならぬ」 means extraordinary, out of the ordinary.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 由々しいゆゆしいgrave
• 憂うべきうれうべきalarming
• 寒心かんしんdeplorable
• 由々しきゆゆしきgrave
• ただならぬunusual