リスク
risuku[ɾʲisɨ̥kɯ̟]
In Japanese, risk is expressed as リスク (risuku).
The loanword リスク is used to describe the potential, and often negative, effects of an event, particularly in business or technical contexts. You can use it in several common phrases: リスクを負う to mean taking or bearing a risk, リスクを回避する to mean avoiding or evading a risk and リスクを軽減する to mean mitigating or reducing a risk.
Meaning: business etc.: potential (conventionally negative) effect of an event (noun)
Which one should you use?
While リスク is used for the concept of risk, other terms exist depending on the nuance. 危険性 refers specifically to the probability of danger or potential hazards. The adjective 危ない is used to convey the general idea of danger and risk.
How do you pronounce it?
risuku
Did you know?
- The kanji for 'danger' in the word 危険 (kiken), which is a synonym for risk, is composed of the characters for 'cliff' and 'mouth'.
- If you want to describe a risky situation as 'dangerous' in a more visceral or physical way, you might use the word 命がけ (inochigake), which literally translates to 'on the line of one's life'.
- While リスク is common in business, Japanese people often use the word 冒険 'adventure' when talking about taking a risk for an exciting or positive outcome.
Examples in context
- リスクが高すぎるんだよ。The risk is too great.This sentence is useful for describing the scale of a risk using リスク.Tatoeba #12648182 by bunbuku, translation #497959 by CM
- そんなリスクを背負いたくない。I'd prefer not to take that risk.This sentence shows how to express the idea of not wanting to take a risk using リスク.Tatoeba #8568975 by small_snow, translation #5688252 by CK
- 睡眠不足で、心筋梗塞リスクが上昇。Sleep deprivation increases risk of heart attacks.This sentence demonstrates how リスク is used to discuss medical or health-related risks.Tatoeba #75971 by wakatyann630, translation #327747 by CK
- 当社にはリスク管理チームがあります。Our company has a risk management team.
- あの山登るのヤバそうだよ。Climbing that mountain seems risky.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A conversation between two office colleagues about a new project.
- 健太 Kenta新しいプロジェクトにはリスクが伴います。Atarashii purojekuto ni wa risuku ga tomonaimasu.The new project involves risks.
- 陽葵 Himari具体的にどのようなリスクがあるんですか？Gutaiteki ni dono you na risuku ga aru n desu ka?Specifically, what kind of risks are there?
- 健太 Kenta予算が足りなくなるリスクがあります。Yosan ga tarinaku naru risuku ga arimasu.There is a risk that the budget will run out.
- 陽葵 Himariそれは大きなリスクですね。Sore wa ookina risuku desu ne.That is a big risk.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “risk” translations and entries リスク, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
