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岌岌可危 (jí jí kě wēi) — in imminent danger; on the verge of collapse; precarious

Definition

A formal idiom meaning a situation is on the very brink of collapse — stronger than just 'in danger' (危险). Used for states, institutions, or relations, not casual risks.

idiom
in imminent dangeron the verge of collapseprecarious

Examples

  • ，岌岌可危。
    Nà zuò lǎo qiáo nián jiǔ shī xiū, yǐ jīng jí jí kě wēi le.
    That old bridge has been neglected for years and is now in imminent danger of collapse.
  • ，岌岌可危。
    Gōng sī zī jīn liàn duàn liè, chǔ jìng jí jí kě wēi.
    The company's capital chain has broken, and its situation is precarious.
  • 岌岌可危。
    Liǎng guó guān xì yīn lǐng tǔ zhēng duān ér jí jí kě wēi.
    Relations between the two countries are in imminent danger due to the territorial dispute.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí岌
Same sound today

岌 shows 山, meaning mountain, beside 及, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí岌
Same sound today

岌 shows 山, meaning mountain, beside 及, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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

  • 厃厃wěiperson on a cliff or mountain
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

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

Open 危 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesSafety & Danger

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