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.
慌てて家を出たので、財布を忘れた。
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.
火事の知らせに、住民は慌てふためいて外に飛び出した。
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.
寝坊して大慌てで準備した。
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.
地震のとき、多くの人がパニックになった。
During the earthquake, many people were in a panic.
彼女は試験中にパニックになって、何も書けなかった。
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.
会場はパニック状態だった。
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.
その知らせを聞いて、人々は恐慌をきたした。
Hearing the news, people were thrown into a panic.
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.
遅刻しそうであたふたした。
I was in a panic because I was about to be late.
彼はあたふたと部屋を出て行った。
He left the room in a fluster.
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.
慌てて走った。
I ran in a panic (hurriedly).
パニックになって走った。
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.
✕ パニックの中で家を出た。
(Unnatural) I left the house in a panic.
○ 慌てて家を出た。
I left the house in a panic.
(Unnatural) I left the house in a panic.
○ 慌てて家を出た。
I left the house in a panic.
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.