危急

§ How to use 危急 (wēijí) in a sentence

危急 (wēijí) is an adjective. This means it describes nouns. It literally translates to 'critical' or 'in imminent danger'. You'll use it to talk about situations, not people directly. Think of things that are urgent, severe, or at a crucial turning point.

Unlike some adjectives in Chinese, 危急 (wēijí) doesn't always need a linking verb like 是 (shì) or 很 (hěn) when it's directly modifying a noun. You can put it right before the noun it describes. However, it often appears after a verb like 处于 (chǔyú) meaning 'to be in' or 变得 (biànde) meaning 'to become'.

§ Direct Modification: 危急 + Noun

The simplest way to use 危急 (wēijí) is to place it directly before a noun to describe its state. This is common when referring to a 'critical situation' or 'critical moment'.

Translation Hint

This is a critical moment.

Translation Hint

The patient is currently in a critical condition.

§ Using 危急 (wēijí) with verbs like 处于 (chǔyú) and 变得 (biànde)

You can also use 危急 (wēijí) after certain verbs to describe how a situation is or becomes critical. This is very common. Here are some examples:

• 处于危急 (chǔyú wēijí) - to be in a critical state: This phrase emphasizes being currently in a dangerous or urgent situation.

Translation Hint

Their lives are in critical condition/danger.

• 变得危急 (biànde wēijí) - to become critical: This phrase indicates a change in state, from not critical to critical.

Translation Hint

The flood made the situation become critical.

§ Common Phrases with 危急 (wēijí)

You'll often hear 危急 (wēijí) in combination with other words to form common, useful phrases. These are good to learn as chunks.

• 危急关头 (wēijí guāntóu) - critical juncture / crucial moment: This is a very common fixed phrase.

Translation Hint

At the critical juncture, he remained very calm.

• 生命危急 (shēngmìng wēijí) - life is critical / in danger: Used specifically for a person's life.

Translation Hint

The doctor said the patient's life is critical.

§ What NOT to do

Do NOT use 危急 (wēijí) to describe people directly, like 'a critical person'. It describes the state of things or situations. For people, you'd use other adjectives like 严厉 (yánlì) for 'strict' or 挑剔 (tiāotì) for 'picky', but these don't carry the sense of 'danger'.

Also, 危急 (wēijí) usually implies a serious, possibly dangerous, situation. Don't use it for minor inconveniences or things that are just 'important' but not 'critical' in a life-or-death or highly urgent sense.

Translation Hint

This is a critical match. (Here, 'critical' implies high stakes or a decisive moment, making it appropriate.)

§ What 危急 Means

Chinese Word

危急 (wēijí)

Part of Speech

Adjective

CEFR Level

A2

Definition

Critical; in imminent danger; urgent.

When you hear or see 危急, think 'really serious' or 'about to go bad'. It describes a situation where things are at a tipping point and intervention is needed quickly. It's not just 'bad,' it's 'critically bad' or 'dangerously urgent'.

§ 危急 in News and Current Events

You'll frequently encounter 危急 in news reports, especially when talking about emergencies, disasters, or political situations. It's used to convey the gravity of a situation to the audience.

• Medical Emergencies:

  病人情况危急，需要立即手术。

  The patient's condition is critical, needing immediate surgery. (Here, 危急 describes the state of the patient.)

• Disaster Reports:

  洪水使数千人的生命处于危急关头。

  The flood put thousands of lives in critical danger. (关头 here means 'juncture' or 'moment,' emphasizing the critical nature of the time.)

• Environmental Issues:

  这些濒危物种的生存状况非常危急。

  The survival status of these endangered species is very critical. (Again, describing a dire situation.)

§ 危急 in Work and Professional Contexts

In professional settings, 危急 is used when a project, a company, or a deadline is facing extreme challenges or is on the brink of failure.

• Business Crisis:

  公司正处于危急存亡之秋。

  The company is in a critical moment of survival. (存亡之秋 (cúnwáng zhī qiū) is an idiom meaning 'a critical juncture for survival or extinction'.)

• Project Management:

  这个项目现在非常危急，我们需要加班完成。

  This project is now very critical; we need to work overtime to finish it. (Here, 危急 highlights the urgency and potential negative consequences if not addressed.)

§ 危急 in Everyday Conversation (Less Common but Possible)

While not an everyday casual word like 'hello' or 'thank you', you might hear 危急 in conversation if someone is describing a very serious personal situation, though it tends to be more formal.

• Personal Hardship:

  他的家庭经济状况很危急。

  His family's financial situation is very critical. (Here, it implies severe financial distress.)

§ Why 危急 Matters for Your Chinese

Learning 危急 helps you grasp the intensity of various situations described in Chinese. It's a word that cuts straight to the point, indicating that immediate attention or action is required. Understanding it will significantly improve your comprehension of news, formal discussions, and serious conversations in Chinese. Don't confuse it with simply 'bad' (不好 - bù hǎo) or 'difficult' (困难 - kùnnán); 危急 carries a much stronger implication of danger and necessity for urgent action.

§ 危急 (wēijí) meaning and usage

Definition

critical; in imminent danger

Many students get confused with 危急 (wēijí) and other similar-sounding or looking words. Let's clear up some of the most common errors so you can use 危急 (wēijí) correctly every time.

§ Mistake 1: Confusing 危急 (wēijí) with 危险 (wēixiǎn)

This is a big one. Both words have 危 (wēi), which means 'danger'. However, their usage is different.

• 危急 (wēijí) describes a situation that is critical and urgent, often implying a point of no return or a severe crisis. It's about a state of immediate, high-stakes danger.
• 危险 (wēixiǎn) is more general. It simply means dangerous. It can describe a place, an activity, or a general risk, but it doesn't necessarily carry the same sense of immediate, overwhelming urgency as 危急 (wēijí).

Think of it this way: all 危急 (wēijí) situations are 危险 (wēixiǎn), but not all 危险 (wēixiǎn) things are 危急 (wēijí).

Here, you can't use 危险 (wēixiǎn). The patient isn't just 'dangerous', their situation is 'critical'.

Here, you wouldn't use 危急 (wēijí) because driving in the mountains isn't always 'critical'. It's just generally 'dangerous'.

§ Mistake 2: Using 危急 (wēijí) as a verb

危急 (wēijí) is an adjective. It describes the state of something, not an action. You cannot say something '危急 (wēijí)s' something else.

Correct usage involves using it with verbs like 处于 (chǔyú - to be in/at), 面对 (miànduì - to face), or describing a situation directly.

You would never say '这座城市危急 (wēijí)'. The word describes the state of the city being at a critical point, not an action it performs.

§ Mistake 3: Overusing 危急 (wēijí)

Because it implies such a high level of danger and urgency, 危急 (wēijí) is not a word you'll use every day. If a situation is merely 'urgent' or 'serious', there are other words you can use:

• 紧急 (jǐnjí): urgent; emergency (e.g., 紧急情况 jǐnjí qíngkuàng - urgent situation)
• 严重 (yánzhòng): serious; severe (e.g., 严重的问题 yánzhòng de wèntí - serious problem)

Only use 危急 (wēijí) when the situation is truly critical, with potential for disaster or significant negative outcome if not addressed immediately.

Here, 'critical' is appropriate because their survival is at stake. If you just said 'serious', it wouldn't convey the same level of imminent threat.

By understanding these common pitfalls, you'll be able to use 危急 (wēijí) with much more accuracy and confidence. Keep practicing, and you'll get it right!