(きょうこう)

きょうこう
noun
panic; economic depression
formalbusinessemotion
1. economic depression; financial crisis
A severe, prolonged economic downturn marked by bank failures, plunging prices, and mass unemployment. Standard term in economic history for events like the 1929 crisis.
The Great Depression of 1929 affected many countries.
The possibility of a financial crisis is also being discussed.
Policies for getting through the depression were rolled out one after another.
2. panic; sudden fear and confusion
A sudden burst of fear and chaos that grips a crowd or an individual. Mostly used in the phrase 恐慌(きょうこう)状態(じょうたい) (a state of panic).
He fell into a state of panic.
火災(かさい)警報(けいほう)場内(じょうない)恐慌(きょうこう)状態(じょうたい)になった。
The fire alarm threw the venue into a state of panic.
Receiving the unexpected news, she was thrown into a panic.

Compound of (きょう) (fear) + (こう) (confusion; flurry). Two clearly separated uses: a technical economic term and a literary word for sudden panic.

Common collocations

Similar words