Translation guide
Expressing that a harmful event is about to happen very soon. Japanese uses specific nouns, adjectives, and set phrases to convey urgency and closeness of a threat.
They were unaware of the imminent danger.
Literally 'danger pressing right before one's eyes', emphasizing the visual immediacy. Slightly more dramatic.
目前に迫った危険から逃げなければならない。
We must escape from the imminent danger.
Means 'crisis' or 'critical situation', often implying imminent danger. Used in compounds like 危機一髪 (close call).
その国は深刻な危機に直面している。
The country is facing a serious crisis (imminent danger).
Formal/literary term for 'imminent danger'. 切迫 means 'urgency' or 'imminence'. Used in news or official warnings.
切迫した危険が迫っている。
Imminent danger is approaching.
Saying someone or something is currently exposed to an immediate threat.
Pattern meaning 'is exposed to danger'. Use with person/thing が/は. Natural for ongoing exposure.
住民は洪水の危険にさらされている。
The residents are in imminent danger of flooding.
Means 'is in a dangerous situation' or 'is on the verge of danger'. Casual and often used in warnings.
そんなことをしたら危ういところだ。
If you do that, you'll be in imminent danger.
Literally 'there is danger to life', used when the threat is life-threatening and immediate.
彼は命の危険があると感じた。
He felt he was in imminent danger of losing his life.
Alerting someone that danger is about to happen right now.
The most common warning shout meaning 'Look out!' or 'Danger!'. Used when danger is immediate.
危ない！車が来る！
Look out! A car is coming!
Imperative 'Run!'. Used when immediate evacuation is necessary. Very direct.
火事だ！逃げろ！
Fire! Run!
Polite request to evacuate. Used in official announcements or when giving calm instructions.
津波の危険があります。直ちに避難してください。
There is danger of a tsunami. Please evacuate immediately.
English 'imminent' is often translated as 差し迫った, but in casual speech, simpler phrases like もうすぐ危険な (dangerous soon) or 今にも危ない (dangerous any moment) may be more natural. Overusing 差し迫った can sound stiff.
危険 (kiken) is general 'danger', while 危機 (kiki) implies a critical turning point or crisis. For 'imminent danger', 差し迫った危険 is more direct; 危機 is often used in broader contexts like 'economic crisis'.