険しい

• Reading: けわしい
• Romaji: kewashii
• Kanji breakdown: 険 (kewa/ken) — steep, dangerous, rugged terrain
• Pronunciation: /ke.wa.ɕiː/

Meaning

Steep; rugged; harsh; stern; grim. Describes terrain that is physically precipitous, or an expression or situation that is severe and forbidding.

An i-adjective with strong physical and metaphorical senses. In the physical domain it describes mountains, cliffs, and paths that are dangerously steep. Metaphorically, it applies to facial expressions (険しい表情 — stern expression), life paths (険しい道 — a hard road ahead), or social situations that feel tense and unforgiving.

Examples

1. 険しい山道を何時間も歩いて、ようやく頂上にたどり着いた。 After walking for hours along the steep mountain trail, I finally reached the summit.
2. 彼は険しい表情でレポートを読み、一言も言葉を発しなかった。 He read the report with a stern expression and didn't utter a single word.
3. 成功への道は険しく、多くの人が途中で諦めてしまう。 The road to success is steep, and many people give up along the way.

Usage Guide

Context: nature description, facial expression, life metaphors, narrative

Tone: serious, forbidding

Origin & History

Derived from 険 (ken — steep cliff, danger,險) with the i-adjective suffix -しい. The character 険 depicts a steep, dangerous hillside. The dual physical/emotional usage dates to classical literature.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal