“Dangerous” in Japanese is 危ない (あぶない), pronounced abunai.
Pronunciation
The word has 4 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Dangerous. Also shouted as a warning: 危ない！, watch out!
Example sentences
- ここは危ないです。ここはあぶないです。It’s dangerous here.
- 危ない！あぶない！Watch out!
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 危ない. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 危ない あぶない | dangerous |
| Polite present | 危ないです あぶないです | is dangerous |
| Negative | 危なくないです あぶなくないです | isn’t dangerous |
| Past | 危なかったです あぶなかったです | was dangerous |
| Past negative | 危なくなかったです あぶなくなかったです | wasn’t dangerous |
| て-form | 危なくて あぶなくて | dangerous and… |
| Adverb (く) | 危なく あぶなく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say dangerous in Japanese?
Dangerous in Japanese is 危ない (あぶない), pronounced “abunai”.
How do you write dangerous in Japanese?
It's written 危ない with kanji, or あぶない in hiragana. Both are read abunai.
Is 危ない on the JLPT?
Yes. 危ない (abunai) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.