precipitous, inaccessible place, impregnable position, steep place

About this kanji

The kanji 「険」 primarily means steep or dangerous. It is often used as an adjective in its kun'yomi form, けわしい, to describe something that is difficult or perilous, like a steep mountain path. In compounds, it forms words like 危険 (きけん), meaning danger, and 冒険 (ぼうけん), meaning adventure, which conveys the thrill of facing risks. Another common compound is 保険 (ほけん), meaning insurance, highlighting its relevance in securing safety. A notable usage note is that while this kanji can evoke physical steepness, it is also often used metaphorically to describe challenging situations in life.

Example sentences

• 険しい山道を登った。

  I climbed the steep mountain path.

Meanings across languages

English

precipitous, inaccessible place, impregnable position, steep place, sharp eyes

Tiếng Việt

dốc đứng, nơi khó tiếp cận, vị trí không thể xâm phạm, nơi dốc, đôi mắt sắc bén

日本語

険しい, アクセス不可, 登れない位置, 急な場所, 鋭い目

한국어

험한, 접근 불가능한 곳, 철옹성의 위치, 가파른 곳, 예리한 눈

中文

险峻, 无法进入的地方, 坚不可摧的地位, 陡峭的地方, 锐利的眼睛

id

curam, tempat terjal

th

ชัน, สถานที่เข้าถึงยาก

es

inaccesible, lugar escarpado

fr

inaccessible, endroit abrupt

de

steil, unzugänglicher Ort

pt

íngreme, lugar inacessível

Common compounds

• 危険きけんdanger, peril, hazard
• 保険ほけんinsurance, guarantee, warranty
• 冒険ぼうけんadventure, venture, venture which is unlikely to succeed
• 保険金ほけんきんinsurance payout, insurance money
• 生命保険せいめいほけんlife insurance
• 険悪けんあくdangerous, perilous, threatening
• 険しいけわしいprecipitous, rugged, inaccessible
• 火災保険かさいほけんfire insurance