險

A phono-semantic compound composed of:

阜 (阝) — hill; mound; terrain (semantic element)

僉 — all; together (phonetic element)

The original image is of rugged, uneven terrain—a place where many obstacles come together, making passage difficult and dangerous.

The earliest meaning of 險 referred specifically to steep mountain paths, cliffs, or narrow passes. From this concrete geographical sense, it extended metaphorically to:

- dangerous situations

- risky plans or actions

- morally treacherous behavior

위험 (危險) — danger; risk

험난 (險難) — rugged and difficult

험지 (險地) — dangerous terrain

험로 (險路) — perilous road

Beyond physical danger, 險 conveys:

- social or political instability

- moral risk

- emotional tension

- calculated risk-taking

It often implies narrow margins for error.

Related characters:

危 — danger; precarious

難 — difficulty; disaster

峻 — steep; severe

阻 — obstruct; hinder

Classical usage:

In Confucian writings, 險 often contrasts with 夷 (level, easy), emphasizing ethical clarity over danger:

「 君子居易以俟命，小人行險以徼幸」

“The noble person abides in what is level and awaits fate; the petty person walks dangerous paths seeking luck.”

Here, 險 implies reckless or morally questionable conduct.

In military contexts, 險 describes strategic terrain:

險地 — perilous ground

要險 — strategic choke points

Mountain passes and narrow valleys were valued precisely because their 險 nature offered defense.

In Buddhist texts, 險 frequently appears metaphorically:

險道 — perilous path (of samsara)

險難 — dangers and hardships of worldly existence

The term warns of spiritual danger, not merely physical risk.