How to say "crisis" in Japanese

• 危機ききJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe core word for 'crisis': a serious, critical situation, whether political, economic, or personal. It is the safest default choice when you mean crisis in its main, neutral sense.
  我々われわれは一大いちだい危機ききに直面ちょくめんしている。↗

  We are facing a violent crisis.
• クライシスCommon
  nounA loanword covering the same sense as 危機. It carries a Western or technical flavor, familiar from news headlines, business talk, and fields such as crisis management or psychology.
• 急場きゅうばCommon
  nounCovers 'crisis' only in the sense of a sudden emergency or critical moment demanding an immediate response. It is really about urgency, so it suits situations like rushing to handle an unforeseen problem.
• 危急ききゅうCommon
  nounMatches 'crisis' through its senses of emergency and imminent danger. It is a formal-sounding word emphasizing that danger is at hand, so it is usually not the everyday word for a crisis in the general sense.
  彼女かのじょは危急ききゅうの事態じたいに備そなえた。↗

  She provided for an urgency.
• ピンチCommon
  nounA loanword best rendered as 'pinch', 'tough spot', or 'bind'. It covers 'crisis' only in casual talk about personal difficulties; for a serious crisis, 危機 is the word you want.
  我々われわれは絶体絶命ぜったいぜつめいのピンチに追い込おいこまれた。↗

  We were driven to the wall.

Use 危機 for a serious crisis in general contexts, 「クライシス」 for the loanword feel in media and technical talk, 「ピンチ」 for a personal tough spot, and 急場 or 危急 for urgent emergencies requiring immediate action.

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

• 危機ききcrisis
• クライシスcrisis
• 急場きゅうばemergency
• 危急ききゅうemergency
• ピンチpinch
• 危局ききょくcrisis
• 危極ききょくcrisis
• 分利ぶんりcrisis (in an illness)
• 危急存亡の秋ききゅうそんぼうのときcrisis
• 緊急事態きんきゅうじたいstate of emergency
• 大事おおごとserious matter
• ショックcrisis (esp. financial)
• 峠とうげpeak (e.g. of summer)
• 緩急かんきゅうemergency
• ことincident
• 大事だいじserious matter
• 分け目わけめcrisis
• 急きゅうemergency