Meaning
A job that involves high risk or peril.
Cultural Background
Japanese society places a high value on safety. Calling a job 'dangerous' is a serious warning. In professional settings, 'kiken' is used in official safety manuals. Action movies often use 'kiken na shigoto' to describe the protagonist's life. It is considered polite to show concern for someone doing a dangerous job.
Na-Adjective Rule
Remember that 'kiken' is a na-adjective. Always use 'na' before the noun.
Don't over-use
Don't call your office job 'kiken'. It will sound like you are joking or being dramatic.
Meaning
A job that involves high risk or peril.
Na-Adjective Rule
Remember that 'kiken' is a na-adjective. Always use 'na' before the noun.
Don't over-use
Don't call your office job 'kiken'. It will sound like you are joking or being dramatic.
Use 'abunai' for casual
If you are talking to friends, 'abunai shigoto' sounds much more natural.
Respect the danger
When talking about dangerous jobs, show respect for the people doing them.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct particle.
それは危険___仕事です。
Kiken is a na-adjective, so it needs 'na' to connect to the noun 'shigoto'.
Which sentence is more natural for a dangerous job?
Choose the best option.
Kiken is a na-adjective, not a noun that uses 'no'.
Match the Japanese term to its English meaning.
Match the following.
These are common work-related collocations.
Complete the dialogue.
A: この仕事、給料はいいけど… B: _____
The context implies a warning about the job.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesそれは危険___仕事です。
Kiken is a na-adjective, so it needs 'na' to connect to the noun 'shigoto'.
Choose the best option.
Kiken is a na-adjective, not a noun that uses 'no'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common work-related collocations.
A: この仕事、給料はいいけど… B: _____
The context implies a warning about the job.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, it can be used for anything dangerous, like 'kiken na basho' (dangerous place).
Yes, 'kiken na hito' means a dangerous person.
Because 'kiken' is a na-adjective (adjectival noun).
It depends on the formality. Use 'kiken' for formal/neutral, 'abunai' for casual.
You can say 'totemo kiken na shigoto'.
Yes, especially in safety reports.
Yes, it's a common way to describe shady work.
No, it's a descriptive term.
Kee-ken.
Yes, 'abunai' and 'kiken' are the most common.
Yes, 'shigoto ga kiken desu' (the work is dangerous).
It implies risk, which could include death, but not always.
Related Phrases
危ない仕事
synonymShady/dangerous job
命がけの仕事
specialized formLife-risking job
大変な仕事
contrastDifficult/hard job
安全な仕事
contrastSafe job
