情勢・状勢|じょうせいjousei[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Which spelling to use
情勢情勢 is the most common written form and the recommended default for learners. Use it when choosing between the two written forms.
状勢状勢 is a rarely used written variant of 情勢. You may encounter it, but it is not the form to choose by default.
Definitions
  1. nounstate of things; state of affairs; situation; conditions; circumstances
    情勢じょうせいは我々われわれが行動こうどうを取とることを必要ひつようとしている。↗
    The situation calls for our action.
Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym状況じょうきょうNeutralCovers circumstances large or small, from society and politics down to the individual; 「情勢」 focuses on the course of political and economic affairs at large.
  • Synonym事態じたいNeutralA situation that has arisen, usually an unwelcome one, as in 「緊急事態」; 「情勢」 looks at the overall direction things are taking.
  • Synonym様子ようすNeutralRefers to what things look like — an observable appearance or state; 「情勢」 is about the situation on the grand scale.
  • Synonym形勢けいせいNeutralHow the balance of power stands at a point in a developing contest — typical of games and battle; 「情勢」 leans to the wider social and international scene.
  • SynonymシチュエーションNeutralA loanword for a scene or set-up, e.g. in film; 「情勢」 is about the big picture, not a particular scene.
  • Synonym時局じきょくWrittenWritten/formal word for the current political situation of the nation; 「情勢」 is the broader term.
  • Related状態じょうたいNeutralThe state of something at a given moment; 「情勢」 points to how a situation keeps changing and where it is heading.
  • Related具合ぐあいNeutralThe condition of a person's health or how a machine is working; 「情勢」 concerns society, not bodies or devices.
  • Related境遇きょうぐうNeutralA person's circumstances in life — the conditions surrounding an individual; 「情勢」 is about society as a whole.
  • Related景況けいきょうWrittenWritten/formal prose for business conditions, as in 「景況感」; 「情勢」 is not tied to the economy.
  • Related様態ようたいWrittenWritten language for the form or state in which something exists; 「情勢」 stresses the movement of affairs.

Use 「情勢」 for political, economic and international conditions, as in 「国際情勢」. For concrete circumstances say 「状況」, for the balance of power 「形勢」, for a bad turn of events 「事態」, and for one's personal lot 「境遇」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 変化へんかしていく物事ものごとの、その時々ときどきの状態じょうたいや、近ちかい将来しょうらいに予想よそうされるなりゆき。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

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

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