脅威|きょういkyoui[1]atamadaka (head-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbthreat; menace
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 脅威する（きょういする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 脅威します（きょういします） |
| Negative (nai) | 脅威しない（きょういしない） |
| polite (masen) | 脅威しません（きょういしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 脅威せず・脅威せぬ（きょういせず・きょういせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 脅威した（きょういした） |
| polite (mashita) | 脅威しました（きょういしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 脅威しなかった（きょういしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 脅威しませんでした（きょういしませんでした） |
| Te form | 脅威して（きょういして） |
| Potential | 脅威できる（きょういできる） |
| Passive | 脅威される（きょういされる） |
| Causative | 脅威させる（きょういさせる） |
| Causative passive | 脅威させられる（きょういさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 脅威すれば（きょういすれば） |
| tara | 脅威したら（きょういしたら） |
| Volitional | 脅威しよう（きょういしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 脅威しましょう（きょういしましょう） |
| Imperative | 脅威しろ（きょういしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related脅しおどしNeutralConcrete threatening words or acts, as in 「脅しをかける」; 「脅威」 is more a presence or force that makes people feel threatened.
- Related脅かしおどかしCasualColloquial: scaring or intimidating someone, from playful to serious. 「脅威」 is a presence or force that constitutes a threat.
- RelatedおそれNeutralWorry or fear, and also the chance of something bad happening, as in 「雨の恐れ」. 「脅威」 is the thing that threatens people.
- Related恐怖きょうふNeutralThe fear a person feels, as in 「恐怖を感じる」. 「脅威」 is the outside force or presence that causes that unease.
- Related脅迫きょうはくWrittenFormal: threatening harm to make someone comply; also a criminal-law term. 「脅威」 need not be deliberate and can be a natural disaster.
- Related恐喝きょうかつWrittenFormal: specifically extorting money by threats; the name of a criminal offence. 「脅威」 involves no extortion, just a general threatening presence.
- Related威嚇いかくWrittenFormal: showing force to frighten an opponent, as in 「威嚇射撃」. 「脅威」 centres on the danger felt by the threatened side.
- Related怖気おぞけNeutralRead 「おぞけ」: a feeling of fear or of the creeps, as in 「怖気をふるう」. 「脅威」 is a threat coming from outside.
- Related恐嚇きょうかくWrittenWritten but rare: frightening people by words or deeds. Today 「脅迫」 or 「威嚇」 is usual; 「脅威」 is the threat itself.
- RelatedこわCasualA colloquial exclamation meaning 'how scary!', often written 「こわ」. It does not name a threat, so it differs from 「脅威」 in use.
- Related脅喝きょうかつWrittenRare even in writing: threatening someone by holding a secret or weakness over them. Daily speech uses 「脅し」 or 「脅迫」; outside threats are 「脅威」.
- Related恐怖心きょうふしんNeutralThe feeling of fear itself, one's own emotion. 「脅威」 is the outside object that inspires that fear.
- Related威迫いはくWrittenA written legal term for coercing or threatening people. Everyday speech says 「脅迫」; a threatening presence is 「脅威」.
- Antonym安全あんぜんNeutralThe state of being free from danger or threat, as in 「安全保障」. It stands at the opposite pole from 「脅威」 in matters of safety.
- Antonym安心あんしんNeutralPeace of mind, being free of worry — a psychological state. It is the opposite of the unease that 「脅威」 brings.
Use 「脅威」 for an outside force or presence that makes people feel threatened, as in 「国家の脅威」 or 「ライバルの脅威」. For concrete threatening words or acts pick 「脅し」 or 「脅迫」, for extortion 「恐喝」, and for fear one feels 「恐怖」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
