危うく

• Reading: あやうく
• Romaji: ayauku
• Kanji breakdown: 危 (ayau) — danger, peril
• Pronunciation: /a.ja.ɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

Barely; narrowly; nearly. Indicating that something dangerous or undesirable was just avoided.

An adverb derived from the i-adjective 危うい (ayaui, dangerous/precarious). Used to express a close call, where something bad almost happened but was narrowly averted. Often followed by ～ところだった (was about to) to complete the near-miss construction. Conveys relief mixed with the seriousness of what could have occurred.

Examples

1. 危うく電車に乗り遅れるところだった。 I nearly missed the train.
2. 危うく財布を落とすところだったよ。 I almost dropped my wallet.
3. 車にぶつかりそうになって危うく大事故になるところだった。 A car almost hit me, and I narrowly avoided a serious accident.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, accidents, close calls

Tone: relieved

Origin & History

From the adverbial form of 危うい (ayaui, dangerous/precarious). The kanji 危 (ki/ayau, danger) conveys the sense of risk. The -ku form converts the adjective into an adverb meaning 'dangerously close to.'

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal