Definition
险 (xiǎn) is a compact, literary adjective meaning 'dangerous' or 'risky', often used in fixed phrases and written Chinese. It is more concise than the everyday 危险 (wēixiǎn), which is the standard word for 'dangerous' in speech. As an adverb, 险 means 'narrowly' or 'barely', a sense that 危险 does not share.
adjective
dangerousperilousrisky
adverb
almostbarelynarrowly
Easily confused
- 脸liǎnlook-alikeface
- 先xiānsound-alikefirst, in advance, before others
- 捡jiǎnlook-aliketo pick up; to collect; to gather
- 线xiànsound-alikethread; string; wire; line
- 验yànlook-aliketo examine; to test; to check
- 献xiànsound-aliketo offer, to present (with respect, e.g. flowers, gifts, opinion)
- 剑jiànlook-alikedouble-edged sword
- 陷xiànsound-aliketo sink into, to get stuck in (physical substance); to cave in
- 显xiǎnsound-alike(adjective) prominent, conspicuous, obvious
- 县xiànsound-alikecounty
Examples
- 险，。Zhè tiáo shānlù fēicháng xiǎn, kāichē yào xiǎoxīn.This mountain road is very dangerous; be careful when driving.
- ，。Tā xiǎn shèng duìshǒu, yíngdé le bǐsài.He narrowly defeated his opponent and won the match.
- 险，。Zhège jìhuà tài xiǎn le, wǒmen zuìhǎo zài xiǎngxiang.This plan is too risky; we'd better think again.
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