物騒

• Reading: ぶっそう
• Romaji: bussō
• Kanji breakdown: 物 (butsu/mono) — intensifier; 騒 (sō) — commotion, disturbance
• Pronunciation: /bɯssoː/

Meaning

Dangerous; unsafe; disturbing; threatening to peace or personal safety.

A na-adjective used to describe environments, situations, or times perceived as unsafe — characterised by violence, crime, or social unrest. 物騒な世の中 (a dangerous world) and 物騒な事件 (a disturbing incident) are common collocations. It can range from a mild warning (物騒だから気をつけて) to serious commentary on social deterioration.

Examples

1. 物騒な事件が相次ぎ、地域住民は夜間の外出を控えるようになった。 With dangerous incidents occurring one after another, local residents began avoiding going out at night.
2. 物騒な世の中だから戸締まりをしっかりするようにと親に言われた。 My parents told me to make sure to lock up because the world has become such an unsafe place.
3. 夜道を一人で歩くのは物騒だと、何度も注意を受けていた。 I was warned repeatedly that walking alone at night is dangerous.

Usage Guide

Context: safety, crime, social commentary, daily life

Tone: cautionary

Origin & History

Compound of 物 (thing, matter; here an intensifying prefix) and 騒 (commotion, disturbance, uproar). 物 in this usage functions as an intensifier meaning deeply or in a profound sense; 物騒 thus means deeply disturbing or full of commotion in a threatening sense.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal