Chinese word

险

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiǎn

Meaning

  • adjectivedangerous

Example

这局面看起来很险。zhè jú miàn kàn qǐ lái hěn xiǎn

This situation looks dangerous.

Illustration for 险 (dangerous)

More examples

他在高空表演的动作太险了，观众都捏了一把汗。tā zài gāo kōng biáo yǎn de dòng zuò tài xiǎn le guān zhòng dōu niē le yì bǎ hàn

The moves he performed high in the air were so dangerous that the audience was on edge.

Core concept

Something is balanced near the edge of trouble, so one wrong step can bring harm, loss, or failure.

Common phrases

  • 危险wēi xiǎn

    dangerous

  • 惊险jīng xiǎn

    thrilling

  • 险情xiǎn qíng

    dangerous situation

Similar words

危险wēi xiǎn: Not safe because harm or loss may happen.
冒险mào xiǎn: Involving a willingness to accept danger or possible failure.
惊险jīng xiǎn: Dangerous in a way that causes fear and tense excitement.
危急wēi jí: So dangerous and urgent that immediate action is needed.

Definition in Chinese

表示处境、形势或事物具有可能导致伤害、损失或失败的不稳定状态，一旦出错就会产生危险。biǎo shì chǔ jìng xíng shì huò shì wù jù yǒu kě néng dǎo zhì shāng hài sǔn shī huò shī bài de bù wěn dìng zhuàng tài yí dàn chū cuò jiù huì chǎn shēng wēi xiǎn

Word origin

险 (xiǎn, "dangerous") developed from a character associated with steep or hazardous ground, then extended that physical sense to situations in which an error can lead to a bad result.

Usage tips

  • The pattern 险些 (xiǎnxiē, "almost") uses the same risk idea to say that an unwanted event nearly happened, a useful everyday pattern beyond the adjective's basic use.

Other meanings

  • riskyadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 冒险mào xiǎntake risksverb
  • 险情xiǎn qíngdangerous situationnoun
  • 险恶xiǎn èsinister and dangerousadjective

Word lists with this word