慌
disconcerted, be confused, lose one's head
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- あわ.てる
- あわ.ただしい
Meaning
慌 centers on a state of mental agitation where one loses composure: being disconcerted, confused, or losing one's head under pressure.
Most common words using 慌
- 慌てるあわてるN3
to become confused (disconcerted, disorganized, disorganised); to be flustered; to panic
- 恐慌きょうこうN1
panic; scare; alarm
- 慌ただしいあわただしいN3
busy; hectic; hurried; rushed
- 世界大恐慌せかいだいきょうこう
Great Depression (1929-1939)
- 世界恐慌せかいきょうこう
worldwide financial crisis; global depression
- 大恐慌だいきょうこう
Great Depression
- 大慌ておおあわて
great haste; mad rush
- 安定恐慌あんていきょうこう
stabilization crisis; stabilisation crisis
- 慌てふためくあわてふためく
to get into a panic; to be flustered; to panic; to get in a flap
- 慌てる乞食はもらいが少ないあわてるこじきはもらいがすくない
slow and steady wins the race; there is luck in the last helping
- 慌て者あわてもの
scatterbrain; absent-minded person; careless person; thoughtless person
- 戦後恐慌せんごきょうこう
post-World War I depression; depression of 1920-1921
- 昭和恐慌しょうわきょうこう
Shōwa Depression (Japanese part of the Great Depression)
- 経済恐慌けいざいきょうこう
financial panic; economic crisis; economic crash
- 金融恐慌きんゆうきょうこう
financial panic; financial crisis
Study
Etymology
慌 combines 忄 (heart/mind) with 荒, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of roughness or wildness, suggesting a mind in a rough, unsettled state.
Meaning mnemonic
The heart radical 忄 beside 荒 (rough, wild) paints a picture of a heart that has gone wild, leaving you disconcerted and confused.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a confused person trying to steer a boat but losing their head and shouting 'Koh!' as they panic: Koh -> コウ, and the wild heart makes them lose control.