危殆 (wēi dài) — (formal) to be in grave danger, to be imperiled

Definition

Literary/formal verb meaning 'to be in grave danger' — used in writing about states, situations, or lives on the brink, not everyday speech.

verb

(formal) to be in grave dangerto be imperiled

危殆。
Zhè ge guó jiā de jīng jì xíng shì wēi dài.
This country's economic situation is in grave danger.
危殆，。
Bìng rén de shēng mìng wēi dài, xū yào lì kè qiǎng jiù.
The patient's life is in grave danger and requires immediate rescue.
危殆，。
Dāng shí zhěng gè chéng shì wēi dài, shì mín fēn fēn táo lí.
At that time the entire city was imperiled, and citizens fled one after another.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

殆dàiperil

危 and 殆 both convey danger or peril, together emphasizing a state of grave danger.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

危 is built from 厃, showing a person on a cliff or mountain, and 卩, showing a kneeling person.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.