不況

• Reading: ふきょう
• Romaji: fukyou
• Kanji breakdown: 不 (fu) — not, un-, non-; 況 (kyou) — condition, situation, moreover
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.kjoː/

Meaning

Recession; economic depression; slump. A period of reduced economic activity and declining business.

A noun referring to economic downturns. Japan has experienced several notable periods of 不況, most famously the 'Lost Decade' following the bubble burst in the early 1990s. Common collocations include 不況に陥る (to fall into recession), 大不況 (great depression), and 長期不況 (prolonged recession). The antonym is 好況 (kokyou, economic boom).

Examples

1. 不況の影響で多くの中小企業が倒産した。 Many small and mid-sized businesses went bankrupt due to the recession.
2. 世界的な不況から徐々に回復しつつある。 The economy is gradually recovering from the global recession.
3. 不況に強いビジネスモデルを構築したい。 I want to build a business model that is resilient to economic downturns.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, business, news

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 不 (fu, not/un-) + 況 (kyou, condition/situation). Literally 'unfavourable condition' — when the economic situation is not good.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal