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非常 (ひじょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N3 Freq. Frequency Top 1,000 Meanings 1
noun
emergency ; state of emergency
Used as a noun and in compounds such as 非常時, 非常口, and 非常事態 for emergency situations or emergency-related things.
さい
は
、
非ひ
常じょう
口ぐち
から
避ひ
難なん
し
て
ください
。
In the event of a fire, please evacuate through the emergency exit.
2
na-adjective
extreme ; extraordinary ; severe ; remarkable ; very
As a な-adjective it describes something as unusually great, severe, or remarkable. The adverbial form 非常に is very common and is somewhat more formal or written-sounding than とても.
Written forms 非ひ 常じょう Usage 97%
Standard high-frequency kanji spelling for both the noun meaning 'emergency' and the adjectival meaning 'extreme; very unusual.'
ひじょう Usage 3%
Similar words 緊きん 急きゅう Means 'urgent' or 'emergency' and focuses on immediate action or time pressure; 非常 can name an emergency state or describe an extreme degree.
異い 常じょう Means 'abnormal' or 'unusual' in the sense of deviating from the normal state; 非常 can mean 'extraordinary' or 'extreme' without necessarily implying abnormality.
とても A common everyday adverb meaning 'very'; 非常に is more formal or written-sounding and can feel stronger or more objective.
Etymology Sino-Japanese compound written with 非 'not; non-' and 常 'ordinary; usual,' giving the idea of something outside the ordinary state. This component explanation is useful for understanding the spelling, but it is not a detailed historical derivation.
