危 (wēi) - danger, peril & hazardous

危Tone 1

wēi ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 㔾

万响

危 · wēi

danger, peril;

hazardous;

precarious;

to endanger;

lofty, high;

proper name

danger, perilhazardousprecarious

Usage highlights

dangercrisiscritical illnessprecariousdangerous buildingcritical condition

Synonyms

  • 险— dangerous, perilous
  • 急— urgent, critical
  • 殆— dangerous, perilous

Antonyms

  • 安— safe, secure
  • 全— complete, safe
  • 稳— stable, steady

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The situation is very dangerous (危险).
  • He works in a hazardous environment (危险环境).
  • The building is in a precarious state (危楼).
  • This is a critical moment (危急时刻).

Collocations

  • danger(危险)
  • crisis(危机)
  • critical illness(危重病)
  • precarious(危殆)
  • dangerous building(危楼)
  • critical condition(危境)

Idioms

  • In imminent peril(危在旦夕)
  • Perilous as a pile of eggs(危如累卵)
  • Speak out boldly regardless of danger(危言危行)
  • Rectify the dangerous and secure the tottering(扶危定倾)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese philosophy, '危' represents both physical danger and moral precariousness.
  • The character appears in historical texts describing states of emergency and critical situations.
  • In naming, it can convey a sense of height and loftiness rather than just danger.

FAQ