危うい|あやういayaui[0]heiban (flat)

1. i-adjectivedangerous; in danger; facing imminent dangerusu. as 危ういところ
   危あやうい所ところを助たすかった。↗

   I had a narrow escape.

   危あやういところで少女しょうじょは湖みずうみでおぼれそうになった。↗

   It was a close call when the little girl almost drowned in the lake.
2. i-adjectiveprecarious (situation); perilous (state, balance, etc.); in doubt; in jeopardy; uncertain; insecure; concerning; worrying
   彼かれは今いま入院中にゅういんちゅうで、生いきられるかどうかは危あやうい状態じょうたいだ。↗

   He is now in the hospital and his life is in the balance.

   敵対てきたい勢力せいりょく間かんの和平わへい交渉こうしょう再開さいかいだけに、関係かんけいは危あやうい。↗

   Relations are tenuous as peace talks resume between warring factions.

• Synonym危ないあぶないNeutralThe everyday word for danger, by far the most common in speech. 「危うい」 leans toward written style and stresses a situation hanging by a thread.
• Synonym危険きけんNeutralA noun for danger itself, stated objectively. 「危うい」 is an adjective and carries a tone of worry about the situation.
• Synonym危なっかしいあぶなっかしいNeutralDescribes something that looks risky enough to keep you on edge, like an unsteady way of walking. 「危うい」 is the more written word.
• SynonymやばいCasualColloquial slang for something bad or dangerous, and also for something amazing. 「危うい」 belongs to written style.
• Synonym物騒ぶっそうNeutralSuggests unsafe surroundings where trouble or crime may strike. 「危うい」 focuses on one's own situation being in jeopardy.
• Related不安定ふあんていNeutralStates instability objectively. 「危うい」 adds a coloring of worry about the situation.
• RelatedおぼつかないNeutralMeans uncertain and unreliable — no assurance about what lies ahead. 「危うい」 instead stresses that danger is present.
• Related剣呑けんのんWrittenA written, old-fashioned word for risky and unsafe. 「危うい」 is the more common choice.
• Related心もとないこころもとないNeutralAbout feeling uneasy and unsure — a subjective lack of confidence. 「危うい」 points to the objective precariousness of the situation.
• Antonym安全あんぜんNeutralSafety and security — the direct opposite of 「危うい」.
• Antonym安泰あんたいWrittenA written word for being safe, stable and at peace — the opposite of the precarious 「危うい」.
• Antonym確かたしかNeutralCertain and dependable; the opposite of 「危うい」 in its sense of unreliable, in doubt.

Use 「危うい」 when a situation is on the brink or something nearly happened, as in 「危うく遅れるところだった」. In casual speech say 「危ない」; for danger as a noun use 「危険」; for unsafe, crime-prone surroundings say 「物騒」; for safety say 「安全」.

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

1. 存立そんりつを脅おびやかす要素ようそを孕はらんでいる。
2. 心配しんぱいである。