Translation guide
The English word 'alarming' describes something that causes worry, fear, or a sense of danger. In Japanese, the most natural way to express this depends on whether you are describing a situation, a piece of news, a trend, or a person's behavior. Common translations include words like 憂慮すべき (yūryo subeki) for serious concerns, 不安な (fuan na) for personal anxiety, and 驚くべき (odoroku beki) for shocking or startling facts. This guide helps you choose the right expression for different contexts.
Use when something makes you feel worried or uneasy about the future, such as a report, statistic, or development.
An alarming trend can be seen.
Means 'serious' or 'grave'. When combined with words like 問題 (problem) or 状況 (situation), it conveys that something is alarmingly bad.
深刻な問題が発生した。
A serious (alarming) problem has occurred.
Means 'uneasy' or 'anxious'. Describes something that makes you feel personally worried or insecure. Less formal than 憂慮すべき.
不安なニュースが続いている。
Alarming news keeps coming.
Passive form of 懸念する (to be concerned). Often used in formal contexts to say something 'is feared' or 'is a cause for concern'.
環境への影響が懸念される。
The impact on the environment is alarming.
Use when something is surprising in a negative or unsettling way, often because it is unexpected or extreme.
Means 'astonishing' or 'shocking'. It can be used for both positive and negative surprises, but in context it often implies something alarmingly unexpected.
驚くべき事実が明らかになった。
An alarming fact came to light.
驚くべき速さで感染が広がった。
The infection spread at an alarming speed.
Means 'shocking' or 'traumatic'. Stronger than 驚くべき, often used for news or events that are emotionally disturbing.
衝撃的な映像が流れた。
Alarming footage was broadcast.
An expression meaning 'to shudder' or 'to be horrified'. Used for something that sends a chill down your spine, often in a more visceral, frightening way.
ぞっとするような話だ。
It's an alarming story.
Use when something serves as a warning or indicates a potential problem, like a literal alarm or a figurative red flag.
Means 'should be on guard against' or 'warrants caution'. Used for signs, behavior, or situations that require vigilance.
警戒すべき兆候だ。
It's an alarming sign.
Simply means 'dangerous'. When used to describe a situation or trend, it can convey that it is alarmingly risky.
危険な状態だ。
It's an alarming condition.
A phrase meaning 'to issue a warning'. Used when someone or something actively signals danger, like an alarm system.
システムが警告を発した。
The system gave an alarming signal.
憂慮すべき is formal and objective, often used in news or reports to describe societal issues. 不安な is more personal and subjective, describing your own feeling of unease. Use 憂慮すべき for 'alarming' in a public context, and 不安な when you personally feel alarmed.
憂慮すべき統計だ。
These are alarming statistics.
不安な気持ちになる。
I feel alarmed.
Avoid directly translating 'alarming' as アラームのような (like an alarm) unless you are talking about a literal alarm sound. For figurative use, choose one of the expressions above.