不況|ふきょうfukyou[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun(economic) depression; recession; slump
    好況こうきょうと不況ふきょうは交互こうごに来くる。↗
    Good times alternate with bad.
Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymリセッションNeutralLoanword for a recession in the technical economics sense, seen mostly in economic reporting; 「不況」 is the common word for a downturn in general.
  • Synonym不景気ふけいきNeutralColloquial word for dull business and hard times; it can also describe a gloomy atmosphere. 「不況」 is the more formal, news-style term.
  • SynonymスランプNeutralLoanword for a slump in form or performance, mostly about individuals such as athletes; 「不況」 is about the economy as a whole.
  • Synonym景気後退けいきこうたいWrittenWritten/formal term for the phase when the economy turns down from its peak, stressing the trend; 「不況」 stresses the state of already being in a slump.
  • SynonymデプレッションNeutralLoanword for a severe depression; it also means depression (the mental state) or a low-pressure system, while 「不況」 refers only to the economy.
  • Related経済危機けいざいききNeutralAn economic crisis, often involving financial turmoil and funding drying up; 「不況」 describes the state of a sluggish economy rather than a crisis.
  • Antonym好況こうきょうWrittenWritten/formal antonym for good business conditions and a booming economy, the opposite of 「不況」 in a slump.
  • Antonym好景気こうけいきNeutralColloquial antonym for good times and prosperity, set against 「不況」 and 「不景気」.
  • Antonym繁栄はんえいNeutralAntonym meaning prosperity and flourishing in any field, not just the economy, as opposed to 「不況」.

For a sluggish economy or a slump, use 「不況」, as in 「不況が続く」. Say 「不景気」 in everyday speech, 「リセッション」 for a recession in the economics sense, 「経済危機」 for crisis scenes like financial turmoil, and 「スランプ」 for a personal slump.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 景気けいきが悪わるいこと。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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