危及

• Pinyin: wēi jí
• Hanzi breakdown: 危 = 厂 (cliff) + 人 (person) + 卩 (kneeling figure) — a person on the edge of a cliff — danger; 及 = 人 (person) + 又 (hand) — a hand reaching a person

Meaning

To endanger; to threaten; to jeopardise. To pose a threat or danger to something.

Used in formal contexts to describe something that poses a concrete threat to health, safety, sovereignty, or stability. Always followed by the thing being endangered (object). Common in news, legal, and political writing. More specific and formal than 威胁.

Examples

1. 严重的空气污染已经开始危及城市居民的身体健康。 Severe air pollution has begun to endanger the physical health of urban residents.
2. 这场政治危机若不及时处理，可能危及整个地区的稳定。 If this political crisis is not dealt with in time, it could jeopardise the stability of the entire region.
3. 非法捕猎行为危及多种珍稀物种的生存。 Illegal poaching endangers the survival of multiple rare species.

Usage Guide

Context: news, health, politics

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 这种病毒变异危及现有疫苗的有效性。(This viral mutation endangers the effectiveness of existing vaccines.)
• 腐败行为危及政府的公信力。(Corrupt behaviour jeopardises the government's credibility.)

Don't Say

• 将危及与危险混用，如'这件事很危及' — 危及 is a transitive verb that needs an object; it cannot be used as a predicate adjective; use 危险 for 'dangerous'

Origin & History

Compound of 危 (danger, peril) and 及 (to reach, to affect). Together: to reach with danger — to endanger.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal