险些 (xiǎn xiē) — narrowly, barely (used to describe a close call, especially with negative outcomes)

Definition

Adverb meaning 'nearly / almost' — used right before a verb to describe a close call, usually with a bad outcome that was just avoided. Stronger and more literary than 差点儿.

adverb
narrowlybarely (used to describe a close call, especially with negative outcomes)

Examples

  • 险些。
    Tā xiǎn xiē shuāi dǎo le.
    He nearly fell.
  • 险些。
    Wǒ xiǎn xiē wàng le dài yào shi.
    I almost forgot to bring my keys.
  • 险些。
    Fēi jī xiǎn xiē zhuàng shàng shān fēng.
    The plane narrowly missed hitting the mountain.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 險; 险 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān險
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 險 pairs 阝, written in full as 阜, with 僉, which gives the sound; the simplified 险 is a shorthand.

Open 险 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 些 →

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