Translation guide
The state of being about to happen, often with a sense of urgency or inevitability. In Japanese, this is expressed through nouns, adjectives, and set phrases rather than a single direct equivalent.
危険が切迫しているのは明らかだった。
The imminence of the danger was clear.
Expressing that something is about to happen soon, often with a sense of urgency.
A noun meaning urgency or imminence, often used in formal or serious contexts like danger or deadlines.
危険の切迫を感じた。
I felt the imminence of danger.
A noun form of the verb 差し迫る, emphasizing that something is pressing or imminent.
締め切りの差し迫りを感じる。
I feel the imminence of the deadline.
A common phrase meaning 'is approaching closely' or 'is imminent', used for events.
試験が間近に迫っている。
The exam is imminent.
Literally 'presses before one's eyes', meaning something is imminent and unavoidable.
出発が目前に迫っている。
Departure is imminent.
Specifically expressing that something bad or threatening is about to happen.
Used in news, reports, or academic writing to describe impending events.
A formal noun meaning tightness, pressure, or imminence, often for resources or situations.
食糧不足の逼迫が報じられた。
The imminence of food shortages was reported.
Means 'to be just ahead' or 'to be imminent', often for scheduled events.
選挙を目前に控え、候補者は忙しい。
With the election imminent, the candidates are busy.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'imminence'. Translating it directly as 切迫 or 差し迫り may sound unnatural in casual speech. Often, rephrasing with a verb phrase like 迫っている is more natural.
嵐が迫っている。
A storm is imminent.
A four-character idiom meaning 'a touch and it will explode', describing a highly volatile, imminent conflict.
両国の関係は一触即発の状態だ。
Relations between the two countries are on the brink of war.