避難します（ひなんします、hinanshimasu）
- to evacuate

The Japanese verb 避難します 避難します means "to evacuate," "to take shelter," "to seek refuge," or "to evacuate to safety." It describes the act of moving away from a dangerous or threatening situation to a safer place. This often involves leaving a location due to natural disasters (like earthquakes, tsunamis, or typhoons), emergencies (like fires or explosions), or other hazardous circumstances. The action emphasizes the need to escape harm or potential danger. The subject of this verb can be people, animals, or even organizations.

⚫︎ 地震が発生したので、住民は避難します。 Translation: The residents will evacuate because an earthquake has occurred. ⚫︎ 火事なので、建物から避難してください。 Translation: Because of the fire, please evacuate from the building. ⚫︎ 台風が近づいているので、避難場所を確認しておきましょう。 Translation: Let's confirm the evacuation location because a typhoon is approaching.

This verb is used in various situations where safety is a primary concern. ⚫︎ It is used when authorities issue evacuation orders due to natural disasters. ⚫︎ It is used during emergencies like fires, explosions, or hazardous material spills. ⚫︎ It can be used when individuals are choosing to leave a dangerous environment for their safety. The polite form is typically used in formal settings or when speaking to someone you respect.

⚫︎ The base form is 避難 (hinan), meaning "evacuation" or "refuge." ⚫︎ The verb 避難します 避難します is a ます-form verb, formed by adding ます (masu) to the stem. ⚫︎ It is typically written in kanji 避難, but in casual settings or for children, it can also be written in hiragana ひなんします. ⚫︎ The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is always します (shimasu). ⚫︎ Various conjugations exist, such as 避難しました 避難しました (hinan shimashita - evacuated/took shelter), 避難しますか (hinan shimasu ka - will you evacuate?), and 避難してください (hinan shite kudasai - please evacuate).

⚫︎ 逃げる (nigeru): to run away, to escape. (More general, can be used in less serious situations) ⚫︎ 退避する (taihisuru): to evacuate, to withdraw. (Often used in a formal setting). ⚫︎ 避ける (yokeru): to avoid. (This can be used if you want to avoid some dangerous things)

⚫︎ 留まる (todomaru): to stay, to remain. ⚫︎ とどまる (todomaru): to stay, to remain. (Casual writing)

津波警報が出たので、高い場所に避難します。 ・Translation: Because a tsunami warning was issued, we will evacuate to a high place. ・Explanation: This sentence explains that people need to move to a safer, higher location due to the tsunami warning. The sentence highlights the relationship between the warning and the [避難します] action.

危険な状態なので、安全な場所に避難する必要があります。 ・Translation: Because of the dangerous situation, we need to evacuate to a safe place. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the general necessity of [避難します] due to the dangerous situation. It indicates a clear link between a need for safety and taking shelter.

The word 避難 (hinan) is composed of two kanji: ⚫︎ 避 (hi) - meaning "to avoid," "to evade," "to dodge." ⚫︎ 難 (nan) - meaning "difficulty," "hardship," or "disaster." Therefore, 避難 (hinan) literally means "to avoid disaster" or "to avoid hardship," reflecting the core meaning of escaping from a dangerous situation. The verb form 避難します 避難しますis created by adding the verb auxiliary します (shimasu - to do) to the noun.