Translation guide
Describes a state of sudden fear, anxiety, or confusion that causes someone to act hastily or lose composure. Japanese expresses this through adverbs, set phrases, and mimetic words that capture the flustered, rushed feeling.
To act hastily or in a fluster due to sudden worry or pressure.
Adverbial form of 慌てる (to panic, to be flustered). Describes doing something in a hurry or in a fluster. Very common and natural.
I left the house in a panic, so I forgot my wallet.
He apologized in a panic.
Emphatic version of 慌てて, meaning 'in a great panic' or 'all flustered'. Adds a sense of being completely thrown off.
At the news of the fire, the residents rushed outside in a panic.
Literally 'in a big panic'. Used when someone is extremely flustered and rushing. Slightly more colloquial.
I overslept and got ready in a huge panic.
To be in a state of panic, fear, or confusion, often losing the ability to think clearly.
Loanword from English. Very common for describing a state of panic. Can be used for both personal panic and mass panic.
During the earthquake, many people were in a panic.
She panicked during the exam and couldn't write anything.
Means 'in a state of panic'. More descriptive and often used in news or formal contexts.
The venue was in a state of panic.
Formal/literary expression meaning 'to fall into a panic' or 'to be panic-stricken'. Often used in written language or serious contexts.
To convey the feeling of being flustered or frantic through sound-symbolic words.
Mimetic adverb describing a flustered, hurried manner. Often used with する or as an adverb.
I was in a panic because I was about to be late.
Mimetic word for wandering around restlessly or not knowing what to do, often due to panic or confusion.
Mimetic word for being flustered and at a loss, often with a nuance of helplessness or weeping.
慌てて focuses on the resulting hurried action, while パニックになる describes the internal state of panic. Use 慌てて when describing doing something in a rush, and パニックになる when emphasizing the loss of composure.
I ran in a panic (hurriedly).
I panicked and ran.
Avoid directly translating 'in a panic' as パニックの中で or similar. It is usually more natural to use an adverbial form like 慌てて or a mimetic word.
(Unnatural) I left the house in a panic.
Hearing the news, people were thrown into a panic.
He left the room in a fluster.
出口がわからなくて、うろうろしてしまった。
I couldn't find the exit and wandered around in a panic.
突然のことで、彼女はおろおろするばかりだった。
Because it was so sudden, she could do nothing but panic.
I left the house in a panic.