Japanese word

物騒

Pronunciation

Romajibussō

Meaning

  • na-adjectivedangerous

Example

最近、この町は物騒です。sai kin ko no machi wa bus sō de su

This town has been dangerous lately.

Illustration for 物騒 (dangerous)

More examples

一人で夜道を歩くのは物騒です。hito ri de yo michi o aru ku no wa bus sō de su

Walking alone at night is dangerous.

Core concept

Describes a place or situation that feels unsafe because trouble or harm may occur.

Common phrases

  • 物騒な世の中bus sō na yo no naka

    dangerous world

Similar words

危険kiken: Describes a person, place, or situation that may cause harm or serious trouble.
不穏fuon: Describes a tense or troubling condition that suggests unrest or possible trouble.
剣呑kennon: Describes a situation that seems dangerous and likely to lead to conflict or harm.

Definition in Japanese

犯罪や争いなどが起こりそうで、安心できないさま。han zai ya araso i na do ga o ko ri sō de an shin de ki na i sa ma

Word origin

物騒 (bussō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 物 (butsu, "matter") and 騒 (sō, "noisy"), with the sound changing to bussō as the word came to mean dangerous or disorderly.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 物騒 (bussō) often describes a neighborhood or the wider social climate, so it can refer to a troubling atmosphere as well as immediate physical danger.

Other meanings

  • unsafena-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 物騒さbussōsadangerousnessnoun

Word lists with this word