緩急(かんきゅう)

かんきゅう
noun
slow and fast; modulation; emergency
musicsportsabstract
1. slow and fast; pace variation; modulation
the variation between slow and fast speeds or tempos; used in music, speech, and sports
緩急(かんきゅう)をつける。
To vary the pace.
Common collocation
緩急(かんきゅう)自在(じざい)にボールを操(あやつ)る。
To control the ball freely with varying speeds.
緩急自在 means having complete control over pace variation
演奏(えんそう)に緩急(かんきゅう)をつけることで表現(ひょうげん)が豊(ゆた)かになる。
Adding tempo variation to the performance makes the expression richer.
ピッチャーは緩急(かんきゅう)を使(つか)い分(わ)けてバッターを抑(おさ)えた。
The pitcher kept the batter in check by mixing slow and fast pitches.
2. emergency; urgent situation
A crisis or emergency. Literary; it survives mainly in the set phrases 一旦(いったん)緩急(かんきゅう)あれば and 一朝(いっちょう)緩急(かんきゅう)あれば (should an emergency arise).
一旦(いったん)緩急(かんきゅう)あれば
should an emergency arise
一朝(いっちょう)緩急(かんきゅう)あれば、すぐに駆(か)けつける。
Should an emergency arise, I will come at once.
緩急(かんきゅう)あれば助(たす)け合(あ)うのが仲間(なかま)だ。
True friends help each other in times of need.

Composed of 緩(かん) (slow, relaxed) + 急(きゅう) (fast, urgent). The two senses come from different readings of this contrast: variation in speed (sense 1) versus the urgent end of the spectrum (sense 2).

Common expressions

Usage

  • Music: varying tempo for expressiveness
  • Baseball: mixing fast and slow pitches
  • Speech/writing: varying rhythm and pacing
  • Sense 1 is the everyday one; sense 2 is literary and found almost only in 〜緩急(かんきゅう)あれば.
general
Added 2026.1.25 14:57 · Revised 2026.10.13 9:44
08000/08122_kankyuu