パニック

ぱにっく
noun
panic
1. panic, state of alarm
A sudden overwhelming feeling of fear or anxiety that prevents clear thinking. Also used for widespread public alarm or confusion.
パニックになった。
I panicked.
地震(じしん)でパニックが()きた。
The earthquake caused a panic.
突然(とつぜん)のトラブルにパニックにならず、()()いて対応(たいおう)することが大切(たいせつ)だ。
When sudden trouble arises, it's important to stay calm and respond without panicking.

パニック describes a state of sudden, overwhelming fear or confusion. It is used both for personal feelings of alarm and for widespread public chaos. From English "panic."

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • パニックになる: to panic, to go into a panic (the most common pattern)
  • パニックを()こす: to cause a panic
  • パニックに(おちい)る: to fall into a panic (more formal)

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • パニック状態(じょうたい): state of panic
  • パニック障害(しょうがい): panic disorder (medical term)
  • パニック発作(ほっさ): panic attack
  • パニック映画(えいが): disaster/panic movie

USAGE NOTE:
In casual speech, パニクる (to panic) is a common slang verb derived from パニック. It conjugates as a godan verb: パニクった (panicked).