危険

• Reading: きけん
• Romaji: kiken
• Kanji breakdown: 危 (ki) — dangerous, perilous; 険 (ken) — steep,险しい
• Pronunciation: /ki.keɴ/

Meaning

Danger; risk; hazard. Describes a situation or thing that could cause harm.

Functions as both a noun and a na-adjective. As a na-adjective, takes な before nouns: 危険な場所 (a dangerous place). The opposite is 安全 (anzen, safe). Very common on warning signs, in news reports, and in everyday conversation about safety. Often abbreviated to 危ない (abunai) in casual speech.

Examples

1. ここは危険ですから、入らないでください。 It's dangerous here, so please don't enter.
2. 一人で夜道を歩くのは危険です。 Walking alone on a dark road at night is dangerous.
3. 危険な場所には近づかないほうがいいです。 You should stay away from dangerous places.

Usage Guide

Context: safety warnings, news, daily life

Tone: cautionary

Origin & History

Combines 危 (ki, dangerous — a person on a cliff edge) and 険 (ken, steep/険しい) — 'dangerous steepness.' The imagery of a precipitous cliff captures the essence of peril.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal