危機|ききkiki[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nouncrisis; critical situation; emergency; pinch
   我々われわれは一大いちだい危機ききに直面ちょくめんしている。↗

   We are facing a violent crisis.

• SynonymクライシスNeutralLoanword for crisis, typically seen in economic and management terms such as 「クライシスマネジメント」; in everyday speech 「危機」 is the usual word.
• SynonymピンチCasualColloquial loanword for a bind or tight spot, from minor troubles to life-or-death moments, as in 「ピンチを脱する」; much more casual than 「危機」.
• Synonym有事ゆうじWrittenWritten word for war or civil unrest, mostly in security and military talk; 「危機」 applies far more widely, to the economy or to individuals.
• Related危険きけんNeutralMeans danger, i.e. the possibility of being harmed, and also works as a na-adjective; 「危機」 is a critical situation with survival at stake.
• Related非常時ひじょうじWrittenWritten word for an emergency period brought by war or natural disaster; stresses a stretch of time, while 「危機」 stresses the danger of the situation itself.
• Related緊急きんきゅうNeutralSays a matter is grave and must be handled at once, stressing urgency; 「危機」 stresses a severe situation with survival at stake.
• Related非常ひじょうNeutralAs a noun it means an emergency, as in 「非常口」, and as a na-adjective it means extreme in degree; 「危機」 refers specifically to a crisis.
• Related難局なんきょくWrittenWritten word for a difficult situation that is hard to handle, as in 「難局を乗り切る」; stresses difficulty, while 「危機」 stresses danger and survival.
• Related急場きゅうばNeutralAn emergency moment that calls for immediate action, as in 「急場をしのぐ」; stresses on-the-spot handling, while 「危機」 stresses survival at stake.
• Related危急ききゅうWrittenWritten word for imminent danger, as in 「危急存亡の秋」, and also for a critical illness; in daily speech 「危機」 is the usual choice.
• Related危局ききょくWrittenWritten word for an urgent, dangerous situation; much the same meaning as 「危機」 but rarely used, so just say 「危機」 in everyday language.
• Related危地きちWrittenWritten word for a dangerous position one is in, as in 「危地を脱する」; it stresses the position itself and is rare, with 「窮地」 the usual word.
• Related危難きなんWrittenWritten word for a calamity that threatens life; stresses the disaster one meets, while 「危機」 stresses the critical juncture of a situation.
• Related非常事態ひじょうじたいFormalFormal term for a state unlike the norm with a crisis looming; used of nations and companies, while 「危機」 is broader and covers personal situations too.
• Related緊急事態きんきゅうじたいFormalFormal term for a grave situation needing immediate response, as in 「緊急事態宣言」; 「危機」 stresses a situation where survival is threatened.
• Relatedまさかの時まさかのときNeutralSet phrase for when something goes wrong, mostly as 「まさかの時の備え」; it stresses preparedness and does not refer to the crisis itself.
• Related緊急時きんきゅうじNeutralRefers to the time an emergency occurs, as in 「緊急時の連絡先」; common in instructions and manuals, while 「危機」 names the situation itself.
• Antonym安泰あんたいWrittenWritten word for being safe and secure, as in 「国家の安泰」; the direct opposite of 「危機」, where survival is under threat.
• Antonym平穏へいおんNeutralMeans peaceful and uneventful, as in 「平穏な日々」; the opposite of the critical situation that 「危機」 describes.

Use 「危機」 for a critical situation with survival at stake, as in 「経営危機」 and 「危機感」. In casual speech say 「ピンチ」; for plain danger use 「危険」, and for matters needing immediate action use 「緊急」 or 「急場」. 「クライシス」 is a loanword typical of economics and management jargon; 「難局」 and the written 「危急」「危局」「危地」「危難」 are rarer literary choices. 「非常時」「緊急時」「まさかの時」 point to the time of an emergency, 「非常事態」「緊急事態」 are formal states of emergency, and 「有事」 belongs to security and military talk. The opposites are 「平穏」 and, in writing, 「安泰」.

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

1. 生命せいめいや物事ものごとの存続そんぞくが危あやぶまれるような危険きけんな場面ばめん。