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.
This is an alarming situation.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
An alarming fact came to light.
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.
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.
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.
It's an alarming sign.
Simply means 'dangerous'. When used to describe a situation or trend, it can convey that it is alarmingly risky.
It's an alarming condition.
A phrase meaning 'to issue a warning'. Used when someone or something actively signals danger, like an alarm system.
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.
These are alarming statistics.
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.
It's alarming how fast it spread.
Expressing shock at speed
Alarming footage was broadcast.