非常

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 非常, read ひじょう, refers to an emergency outside ordinary conditions.
• Basic usage: In the form 非常に, it expresses a very high degree.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An emergency
  • In the example, 非常の場合 means in an emergency.
• Emphasizing degree
  • 非常に分かりやすい means extremely easy to understand.
  • Here the expression with に intensifies the following quality rather than referring to an emergency.