How to say "risk" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe loanword noun for risk as a concept or measurable factor, typical of business, finance, medicine and planning contexts, e.g. assessing or managing risk.
- 冒すおかすgodan verb, transitive verbA verb meaning to brave or venture into danger; it covers 'to risk' when someone knowingly faces a hazard, typically with danger or one's life as the object.
- 賭けるかけるichidan verb, transitive verbA verb for wagering or staking something on an outcome; it matches 'to risk' only in the sense of putting money, status or one's life on the line, and is really a gambling word.
- 危険きけんnoun, na-adjectiveThe everyday noun for danger; it covers 'risk' when you mean a hazard or the possibility of harm, as in warning signs or dangerous areas, rather than a calculated, assessed risk.
- nounFear or apprehension, and hence 'risk' in the sense of the likelihood that something bad may happen; typical of written warnings and announcements, and usually written in kana alone.
Use 「リスク」 for risk as a concept in business or planning, 危険 for danger or hazards, 「おそれ」 for the risk that something bad may happen, 「冒す」 for braving danger, and 「賭ける」 for staking something on an outcome.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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