不穏|ふおんfuon[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, noundisquieting; threatening; turbulent; restless; unsettled; disturbing
   軍部ぐんぶに不穏ふおんな動うごきが見みられる。↗

   There seem to be dangerous developments in the military.

• Related混乱こんらんNeutralThe broadest word: disorder or chaos where things are already in disarray, whereas 「不穏」 stresses tension and a sense that trouble is coming.
• Related不安ふあんNeutralAnxiety or worry felt in the mind. It can also describe society, as in 「不安な社会情勢」, but the focus stays on people's feelings rather than the situation itself.
• Related激動げきどうNeutralViolent, dramatic change, as in 「激動の時代」. It stresses how drastic the shifts are; 「不穏」 suggests tension that may erupt at any moment.
• Related動揺どうようNeutralWavering — a shaken, unsettled mind, or a government or structure being rocked. It stresses swaying back and forth rather than a tense, threatening air.
• Related不吉ふきつNeutralIll-omened in the superstitious sense — bad luck, bad signs. It is not used for a turbulent political or social situation; that is 「不穏」's territory.
• Related禍々しいまがまがしいWrittenWritten and literary in flavor: sinister, ill-omened, as in 「禍々しい雰囲気」. It stresses the ominous feel, while 「不穏」 stresses an unsettled situation.
• Related不安心ふあんしんNeutralFeeling uneasy or not reassured. Rare in practice; say 「不安」 instead in most cases.
• Related不祥ふしょうNeutralInauspicious or disgraceful; also unlucky. Mostly seen in compounds like 「不祥事」, which means a scandal.
• Related縁起の悪いえんぎのわるいNeutralColloquial: a sign or omen is bad, unlucky. Superstitious flavor; it is not used for social or political situations.
• Antonym平穏へいおんNeutralThe opposite of 「不穏」: calm and untroubled, with nothing happening — the direct antonym to its tense, turbulent air.
• Antonym安定あんていNeutralThe opposite of 「不穏」: stable and steady, with no big changes — the antonym for its 'unstable' sense.

Use 「不穏」 for a tense situation or atmosphere that seems about to erupt, as in 「不穏な空気」 and 「不穏な動き」. For a sinister, ill-omened feel choose 「禍々しい」; for inner anxiety 「不安」; for disorder 「混乱」; for drastic change 「激動」; for wavering 「動揺」; for bad omens 「不吉」 or colloquial 「縁起の悪い」. Antonyms: 「平穏」, 「安定」.

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

1. 今いまにも事件じけんが起おきそうで、穏おだやかでない様子ようす。