慌てる

• Reading: あわてる
• Romaji: awateru
• Kanji breakdown: 慌 (awate) — fluster, panic, confused
• Pronunciation: /a.wa.te.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To become confused; to panic; to be flustered. To lose composure due to surprise or urgency.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb. Describes the state of being flustered or hurried due to an unexpected situation. Often used with adverbs: 慌てて (in a panic/hurriedly). The negative form 慌てないで (don't panic) is a common reassurance. Related to the adjective 慌ただしい (hectic/busy).

Examples

1. 地震が来て慌てて外に飛び出した。 When the earthquake hit, I panicked and rushed outside.
2. 慌てないで、落ち着いて行動しよう。 Don't panic — let's stay calm and act carefully.
3. 寝坊して慌てて家を出た。 I overslept and rushed out of the house in a panic.

Usage Guide

Context: emergencies, daily life, mistakes

Tone: urgent

Origin & History

The kanji 慌 combines 忄(heart radical) and 荒 (rough/wild) — a heart in a wild, agitated state. Vividly captures the feeling of inner turmoil.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal