危机

• Pinyin: wēi jī
• Hanzi breakdown: 危 = 厂 (cliff) + 人 (person) + 卩 (kneeling), depicting precarious danger; 机 = 木 (wood) + 几 (small table), representing mechanism or crucial point

Meaning

Crisis; critical moment. A dangerous or unstable situation requiring urgent response.

Used across many contexts: economic crisis, political crisis, environmental crisis, personal crisis. The word famously combines 危 (danger) and 机 (opportunity), often cited as reflecting a Chinese philosophical view that crisis contains opportunity — though linguists debate this interpretation. Very common in news and formal discourse.

Examples

1. 这次金融危机对全球经济造成了巨大冲击。 This financial crisis had a huge impact on the global economy.
2. 他们的婚姻已经面临危机，需要好好沟通。 Their marriage is facing a crisis; they need to communicate properly.
3. 环境危机越来越严重，我们必须采取行动。 The environmental crisis is getting more serious; we must take action.

Usage Guide

Context: news, business, politics, personal

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 公司正在经历财务危机。(The company is going through a financial crisis.)
• 危机时刻最能考验一个人。(Critical moments are the best test of a person.)

Don't Say

• 我遇到了一个小危机找不到钥匙 — 找不到钥匙不算危机，说'小麻烦'或'小问题'更合适

Origin & History

Compound of 危 (danger) + 机 (crucial point, opportunity). Originally meant a critical turning point that could go either way.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal