How to say "danger" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 危険きけんnoun, na-adjectiveThe default word for danger in the abstract: a situation or condition that is unsafe. Use it for warning signs, hazards, and general statements that something is dangerous.
- 危害きがいnounDanger as harm or injury actually threatened or done to a person or thing. Typical in phrases about endangering someone's safety rather than describing a dangerous place.
- 危険性きけんせいnounDanger considered as a degree of risk or likelihood; 'the riskiness of something'. Natural when discussing how great the danger is, as in assessments or analyses.
- 敵てきnounReally means 'enemy' or 'threat'; 'danger' only in the sense of a menacing presence, as a rhetorical way of calling something a menace. Seldom the word you want for ordinary danger.
- 冒険ぼうけんnoun, na-adjective, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers danger only in the sense of a risky venture unlikely to succeed—an adventure or gamble. For 'danger' itself this is marginal; it really names the undertaking, not the peril.
Use 危険 for danger generally, 危害 for harm to someone, 危険性 for degree of risk, and 冒険 for risky ventures; 敵 is really 'enemy' and rarely means danger.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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