艰险

• Pinyin: jiān xiǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 艰 = 艮 + 又 (unyielding hardness resisting all effort); 险 = 阜 + 佥 (steep mound + everyone — a slope dangerous to all who traverse it)

Meaning

Arduous and perilous; fraught with difficulty and danger. Describes situations, journeys, or circumstances that are both hard and hazardous.

A literary and formal adjective combining the senses of difficulty (艰) and danger (险). Often appears in descriptions of dangerous expeditions, revolutionary struggles, or challenging life circumstances. Carries a heroic or dramatic tone and is frequently used in literary prose, historical narratives, and motivational contexts.

Examples

1. 探险队穿越了艰险的山区，终于抵达了目的地。 The expedition crossed treacherous mountain terrain and finally reached its destination.
2. 革命先烈在艰险的岁月中坚守了自己的信仰。 Revolutionary martyrs held fast to their faith through those harsh and dangerous years.
3. 前方的道路艰险难行，但他们没有放弃前进的脚步。 The road ahead is difficult and perilous, but they did not stop moving forward.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, historical narratives, motivational writing, adventure, political discourse

Tone: dramatic

Do Say

• 最早到西北高原探险的地质学家在艰险环境中奋战两年，绘出详尽地质图谱。(The geologists who first explored the northwest plateau worked for two years in harsh conditions and produced a detailed geological map.)
• 他在回忆录中平静写下那段艰险岁月，字里行间满是对生命韧性的敬意。(In his memoir, he calmly wrote about those difficult years, and every line showed respect for the resilience of life.)

Don't Say

• 艰险 combines difficulty and danger — do not use it for situations that are merely difficult (use 艰难) or merely dangerous (use 危险). 艰险 is formal and literary; in casual speech, use 又难又危险 or specific descriptors. Avoid using 艰险 for trivial inconveniences.

Origin & History

艰 (difficult; arduous) + 险 (dangerous; perilous — 阜 mound + 佥 all — a precipitous slope threatening to all)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal