大慌(おおあわ)て

おおあわて
noun, na-adjective
great panic; frantic haste
emotion
1. great panic; frantic haste; being flustered
A state of extreme hurry, panic, or confusion, typically in response to an unexpected situation.
大慌(おおあわ)てで家(いえ)を出(で)た。
I left the house in a great hurry.
I overslept and got ready in a frantic rush.
It suddenly started raining, and I was in a complete panic bringing in the laundry.

Composed of 大(おお) (great, big) + 慌(あわ)て (haste, fluster). The prefix 大(おお) intensifies the base word 慌(あわ)て. Used to describe comical or relatable situations of panic.

Common collocations

  • 大慌(おおあわ)てで (in a great hurry, frantically)
  • 大慌(おおあわ)てになる (to become flustered/panicked)
  • 大慌(おおあわ)ての様子(ようす) (a flustered appearance)

Similar words

  • 慌(あわ)てる — to panic, to be flustered (verb form, less intense)
  • あたふた — in a fluster, hurriedly (onomatopoeia describing the frantic manner)
  • 焦(あせ)る — to feel anxious, to rush (more about internal anxiety than outward chaos)
  • てんやわんや — commotion, chaos (describes a chaotic scene, often involving multiple people)