非常|ひじょうhijou[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounemergency
   非常ひじょうの場合ばあいは警察けいさつを呼よびなさい。↗

   Call the police in an emergency.
2. na-adjectiveextreme; great; extraordinary; remarkable; unusual; terrible; severe
   叔母おばは非常ひじょうなお金持かねもちだからといって、それだけ幸しあわせというわけではない。↗

   My aunt is none the happier for her great wealth.

• SynonymエマージェンシーNeutralLoanword for an emergency, heard mostly in medicine, aviation and on signs; in everyday speech people say 「緊急」.
• Synonym急場きゅうばNeutralA pressing moment that calls for quick action, as in 「急場をしのぐ」; the emphasis is on tiding things over for the time being.
• Synonym有事ゆうじWrittenThe outbreak of war or similar upheaval, as in 「有事の際」; mostly defense and political jargon.
• Related危機ききNeutralA dangerous situation that threatens survival or existence, as in 「経営危機」; the stress is on the danger itself, while 「非常」 stresses an unusual emergency state.
• Related緊急きんきゅうNeutralFor matters so grave they must be handled at once, as in 「緊急会議」「緊急事態」; the emphasis is on urgency, and it often serves as a modifier.
• Related非常時ひじょうじNeutralAn emergency period such as wartime or a disaster, as in 「非常時に備える」; points more explicitly to that period than 「非常」 does.
• Related急変きゅうへんNeutralA sudden change in things like an illness, the weather or someone's attitude, as in 「容態が急変する」; the point is the abruptness of the change.
• Related危急ききゅうWrittenWritten/formal word for imminent danger, as in 「危急存亡の秋」; mostly confined to fixed expressions.
• RelatedピンチNeutralLoanword for a bind or crisis, as in 「ピンチを脱する」; common in colloquial speech, mostly about individuals or competitions.
• Related焦眉しょうびWrittenWritten/formal word, used mostly in 「焦眉の急」, for a problem that is imminent.
• Related火急かきゅうWrittenWritten/formal word for extreme urgency; usually in phrases like 「火急の用」「火急の用件」「十万火急」; seldom used on its own.
• Related変事へんじWrittenWritten word for an unexpected incident or upheaval; uncommon today, when 「異変」 or 「事件」 are the usual words.
• Related緊急事態きんきゅうじたいNeutralA serious situation that demands an urgent response, as in 「緊急事態宣言」; more concrete and formal-sounding than 「非常」.
• Relatedまさかの時まさかのときNeutralColloquial phrase for when the unexpected strikes, as in 「まさかの時に備える」; leans toward the moment something unforeseen happens.
• Antonym平常へいじょうNeutralOrdinary times, same as always; the opposite of the special, emergency sense of 「非常」.
• Antonym普通ふつうNeutralJust ordinary, run-of-the-mill; the opposite of the extraordinary sense of 「非常」.
• Antonym通常つうじょうNeutralThe usual, normal state of affairs, as in 「通常営業」; the opposite of 「非常」.

Use 「非常」 for an unusual emergency, as in 「非常口」. For what needs immediate action say 「緊急」, for a dangerous situation 「危機」, for a casual personal bind 「ピンチ」; the opposites are 「平常」 and 「通常」. Narrower: 「非常時」 for the period, 「急変」 for sudden changes, 「緊急事態」 for a grave situation needing a response, 「急場」 for coping on the spot, 「まさかの時」 for the unexpected, 「エマージェンシー」 in medical or aviation use. Written 「危急」「火急」「焦眉」 mostly live in set phrases; 「変事」 is an unexpected upheaval, 「有事」 war or crisis in defense and politics.

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

1. 普段ふだんと異ことなること。差し迫さしせまった事態じたい。
2. 程度ていどが甚はなはだしい様さま。
3. 状況じょうきょうが普通ふつうでない様さま。