險 meaning and stroke order
Narrow pass, strategic point
How to write 險, stroke by stroke
15 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 險
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- danger
- dangerous
- rugged
How 險 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hill.
阝 gives the meaning and 僉 hints at the sound.
Radical: 阝 (place), shared by 160 characters on this site.
How to remember 險
險 combines 阝 (a hill or mound) with 僉 (qiān), which gives the sound. Picture a steep hill pass where the path is narrow and every step feels dangerous.
險 (xiǎn) is the traditional form used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. It rarely stands alone and usually appears in words like 危險 (wēixiǎn, dangerous), 保險 (bǎoxiǎn, insurance) and 風險 (fēngxiǎn, risk). Example: 這條路很危險。(Zhè tiáo lù hěn wēixiǎn.) This road is very dangerous.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 險 (xiǎn) with 檢 (jiǎn, to check) and 驗 (yàn, to test), which share the same right side 僉. Remember that the hill radical 阝 on the left points to danger and terrain, not checking or testing.
Common words with 險
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 危險 | wēixiǎn | danger; dangerous | HSK 3 |
| 保險 | bǎoxiǎn | insurance; to insure | HSK 3 |
| 風險 | fēngxiǎn | risk; hazard | HSK 3 |
| 冒險 | màoxiǎn | to take risks; to take chances | HSK 7-9 |
| 探險 | tànxiǎn | to explore; to go on an expedition | HSK 7-9 |
| 驚險 | jīngxiǎn | perilous; touch-and-go; nerve-racking; suspenseful | HSK 7-9 |
| 艱險 | jiānxiǎn | difficult and dangerous; hardships and perils | HSK 7-9 |
| 遇險 | yùxiǎn | to get into difficulties; to meet with danger | HSK 7-9 |
| 化險為夷 | huàxiǎnwéiyí | to turn peril into safety (idiom); to avert disaster | HSK 7-9 |
| 保險箱 | bǎoxiǎnxiāng | safe deposit box; safe | |
| 生命危險 | shēngmìngwēixiǎn | risk to one's life | |
| 保險櫃 | bǎoxiǎnguì | a safe; strongbox | |
| 險境 | xiǎnjìng | critical circumstances; risky conditions | |
| 探險家 | tànxiǎnjiā | explorer |
Questions about 險
How many strokes are in 險?
險 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 險 mean?
險 (xiǎn) means narrow pass, strategic point. A common word with it is 危险 (wēixiǎn), meaning "danger; dangerous".
How do you pronounce 險?
險 is pronounced xiǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 險?
The radical of 險 is 阝, which carries the idea of "place". Dictionaries list 險 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 險?
險 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 险, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Why does 保險 mean insurance if 險 means danger?
保 (bǎo) means to protect or guarantee, so 保險 is literally protection against danger. It also means safe or reliable in casual speech, as in 這樣比較保險 (zhèyàng bǐjiào bǎoxiǎn), this way is safer.
What is the difference between 冒險 and 探險?
冒險 (màoxiǎn) means to take a risk in general, including in business or life decisions. 探險 (tànxiǎn) means to explore unknown places, like going on an expedition into a jungle or cave.