4535
I wanted to know how to say "risk" in Japanese, so I looked it up, and found
that most dictionaries translate "risk" as `「[危険]{きけん}」`. To me, `[危険]{きけん}`
means "danger", which is different.

Though, to be honest, when I thought of this, I realized that even in English,
the difference is subtle. The two words feel very different, but I had to look
on the net to be really sure of what that difference is.

As I see it now, "risk" is about _possibility_ of danger. Danger is a
certainty that you either enter into or don't.

So, if there is a sign that says "Danger, do not step on third rail", you know
for sure if you step on the third rail, you get electrocuted. No two ways
about it.

However, if you hear on the news that there is ice on the roads, and so it is
"risky" to go out driving, you may or may not encounter ice, and it may or may
not be a problem.

So, as far as I translate it in Japanese, `[危険]{きけん}` is definite danger
(correct me if I'm wrong about that). If I see a sign that says `「[危険]{きけん} ー
[入]{はい}らないでください」`, I expect that if I enter, something _definitely_ dangerous
will occur.

If I wanted to express "risk" in Japanese, is there a word I can use? Do I
have to say something like `「[危険]{きけん}の[可能性]{かのうせい}」`?

Specifically, the kind of situation I imagine this in is financial risk. Like
in a business meeting where I'd want to say "I would rather not take on that
risk."

Lastly, I know I could maybe use `リスク`, but using katakana makes me sad.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-31T06:32:41.547
4501
2012-02-02T17:41:23.393
119
question
word-choice translation
How can I differentiate between "risk" and "danger" in Japanese?
You have 'risk, danger, peril, hazard, caution' etc... But we can use just
危険(or恐れ?) for most of them, and we would need some explanation to understand
the difference and to know which one to use in what context. Like... we have
米、ご飯、米飯、白米、稲、ライス、もみ etc... while you can just say 'rice' to refer to them.  
As rio-san and istrasci-san said, I think 'risk' can be referred to as
[危険性]{きけんせい} as well as just 'リスク'.  
When you'd want to talk about 'financial risk', like 'I would rather not take
on that risk,' I'd rather use 'リスク' though・・・→
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RURgbNJZ6rA&feature=pyv](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RURgbNJZ6rA&feature=pyv)
\-- at 2:45, 3:45.  
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABvLOW_nEh8&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABvLOW_nEh8&feature=related)
\-- at 1:37, 1:43, 2:39, 2:59 etc...
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-02T17:41:23.393
4535
2012-02-02T17:41:23.393
4501
answer