Onyomi: ケン · Kunyomi: けわ.しい · Meanings: impregnable position, inaccessible place, precipitous, sharp eyes, steep place
Kanji for impregnable position, inaccessible place, precipitous, sharp eyes, steep place
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The kanji 険 combines the cliff radical 阝 on the left with the character 僉 on the right. 阝 represents a hill or cliff, symbolizing uneven or elevated terrain. 僉 originally depicted many people together, showing complexity or difficulty. Combined, the kanji paints the image of a steep, treacherous place that is hard to navigate, where effort or caution is required. Over time, 険 came to represent danger, risk, steepness, or any situation that is challenging and difficult to safely traverse.
A cliff (阝) combined with complexity or difficulty (僉) — representing steep, dangerous, or risky situations.
Imagine standing at the edge of a cliff (阝) where the path is tricky and full of obstacles (僉). That’s 険 — steep, dangerous, or risky.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 嵯峨 | さが | precipitous | 'taru' adjective, Adverb taking the 'to' particle |
| 険 | けん | steepness, steep place | Noun, Na-adjective (keiyodoshi) |
| 険しい | けわしい | precipitous, rugged, inaccessible, impregnable, steep | common JLPT-N2 I-adjective (keiyoushi) |
| 険悪 | けんあく | dangerous, perilous, threatening, stormy, volatile, tense, critical, serious | common Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun |
| 険しい山 | けわしいやま | steep mountain, craggy mountain | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Noun |
| 険しい言葉 | けわしいことば | harsh language | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Noun |
| 険しい声 | けわしいこえ | sharp voice | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Noun |
| 険しい顔 | けわしいかお | grim face | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Noun |
| 険しい顔つき | けわしいかおつき | grim look | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Noun |
| 険しい目 | けわしいめ | grim stare, stern look | Expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.), Noun |