冒険

• Reading: ぼうけん
• Romaji: bouken
• Kanji breakdown: 冒 (bou) — risk, brave, defy; 険 (ken) — danger, steep
• Pronunciation: /boː.keŋ/

Meaning

Adventure; risk; venture. An undertaking involving danger, excitement, or the unknown.

A noun and suru verb (冒険する, to take a risk/go on an adventure). Used both for exciting adventures (冒険小説 — adventure novel) and for risky decisions (それは冒険だ — that's risky). Common compounds: 冒険家 (adventurer), 冒険心 (spirit of adventure), 大冒険 (great adventure).

Examples

1. 子供のころ冒険小説をたくさん読んだ。 I read a lot of adventure novels when I was a kid.
2. 一人で知らない国を旅するのは冒険だ。 Traveling alone to an unfamiliar country is an adventure.
3. 新しいビジネスに冒険する勇気が必要だ。 You need the courage to venture into a new business.

Usage Guide

Context: stories, travel, business decisions

Tone: exciting

Origin & History

Compound of 冒 (bou, to risk/brave) and 険 (ken, danger/steep). Together, 'braving danger' — originally a literary term that became widely used through adventure stories.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal