When you hear 険しい (kewashii), think about a difficult path or a challenging expression. It's often used to describe natural landscapes like mountains or cliffs that are steep and rugged, making them hard to traverse.
However, you can also use 険しい to describe someone's facial expression. If someone has a severe, stern, or grim look on their face, you would say their expression is 険しい.
For example, imagine a steep mountain trail; you could say その山道は険しい (Sono yamamichi wa kewashii - That mountain path is steep). Or, if a boss is looking very serious about a deadline, you might say 上司の顔つきが険しい (Joushi no kaotsuki ga kewashii - My boss’s expression is severe).
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
Let's break down the Japanese adjective 険しい (kewashii). This word is really useful, especially if you're talking about landscapes or even facial expressions. It's a CEFR A2 level word, which means it's pretty fundamental.
- Definition
- Steep, rugged, or severe; describing terrain.
The core meaning of 険しい is about something that is difficult or dangerous to traverse. Think of a mountain path that goes straight up, or a cliff face. That's exactly when you'd use 険しい. It implies not just steepness, but also a certain roughness or harshness.
その険しい山道は危険だ。
(Hint: That steep mountain path is dangerous.)
Here, 険しい directly describes the mountain path (山道, yama-michi), telling us it's not an easy walk. It's tough, possibly perilous. You wouldn't use it for a gently sloping hill or a flat road.
While its primary use is for geographical features, 険しい can also be used metaphorically, especially to describe a person's facial expression. When someone looks stern, grim, or even angry, their face can be described as 険しい.
彼の顔は険しかった。
(Hint: His face was stern/grim.)
In this context, it suggests a look that is not friendly or relaxed. It implies seriousness, perhaps worry, or even anger. It’s a 'hard' look. You wouldn't use it to describe a happy or smiling face.
So, when do people use it? You'll hear 険しい a lot when people are talking about:
- Mountains, cliffs, or rugged terrain.
- Difficult trails or paths.
- A stern or severe facial expression.
It's not a word you'd use for everyday objects unless you're trying to be poetic and describe something as having a 'rugged' appearance, but even then, it's less common. Stick to landscapes and faces for most situations.
알아야 할 문법
い-adjectives like 険しい can directly modify nouns. For example, 険しい山 (kemushii yama) means 'a steep mountain'.
彼らは険しい山道を登った。(Karera wa kemushii yamamichi o nobora.) - They climbed a steep mountain path.
To use い-adjectives as adverbs, change the final い to く. So, 険しく (kemushiku) means 'steeply' or 'severely'.
道が険しくなってきた。(Michi ga kemushiku natte kita.) - The road has become steep.
When using 険しい to describe someone's expression, it implies a stern or grim look. For example, 険しい顔 (kemushii kao) means 'a stern face'.
彼は険しい顔で私を見た。(Kare wa kemushii kao de watashi o mita.) - He looked at me with a stern face.
You can use 険しい in a conditional phrase with たら (tara). For example, 険しかったら (kemushikattara) means 'if it was steep'.
もし道が険しかったら、引き返しましょう。(Moshi michi ga kemushikattara, hikikaeshimashou.) - If the road is steep, let's turn back.
To express that something is becoming steep, you can use the verb なる (naru) after changing the い-adjective to its adverbial form. For example, 険しくなる (kemushiku naru) means 'to become steep'.
天気予報によると、午後は道が険しくなるそうです。(Tenki yohou ni yoru to, gogo wa michi ga kemushiku naru sou desu.) - According to the weather forecast, the road will become steep in the afternoon.
수준별 예문
この山の道は険しいので、しっかり準備をしてから登りましょう。
This mountain path is steep, so let's prepare thoroughly before climbing.
ので indicates a reason.
彼の顔は険しい表情をしていて、何か悩んでいるようだった。
He had a severe look on his face, as if he were troubled by something.
表情 (hyōjō) means expression.
険しい道のりを経て、ようやく頂上にたどり着いた。
After a rugged journey, we finally reached the summit.
道のり (michinori) means journey or route.
人生には時として険しい局面が訪れるものです。
In life, there are times when severe phases visit us.
局面 (kyokumen) means phase or situation.
この辺りの海岸線は険しい岩場が続いています。
The coastline around here is a succession of rugged rocky areas.
岩場 (iwaba) means rocky area.
彼は険しい顔つきで、その提案をきっぱりと拒否した。
With a severe look, he flatly rejected the proposal.
顔つき (kaotsuki) means facial expression or look.
その政策は国民にとって険しい決断を迫るものだった。
That policy forced a severe decision on the citizens.
決断 (ketsudan) means decision.
険しい斜面での作業は常に危険と隣り合わせだ。
Work on a steep slope is always accompanied by danger.
斜面 (shamen) means slope.
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
その山はとても険しい。
That mountain is very steep.
険しい道を登った。
I climbed a steep road.
彼の顔は険しかった。
His face was stern.
険しい坂を自転車で上るのは大変だ。
It's tough to cycle up a steep slope.
険しい崖が目の前に広がっていた。
A steep cliff spread out before our eyes.
彼の表情は険しくなった。
His expression became severe.
私たちは険しい道のりを乗り越えた。
We overcame an arduous journey.
この辺りの自然は険しい。
The nature around here is rugged.
険しい谷底へ落ちないように気をつけよう。
Let's be careful not to fall into the steep valley.
この地域の地形は険しい。
The terrain in this region is rugged.
자주 혼동되는 단어
A rugged mountain path; here 険しい describes the physical difficulty and features of the path.
A stern or grim face; this is an idiomatic usage where 険しい describes the severity of an expression, not physical terrain.
A difficult or arduous life; another idiomatic usage where 険しい refers to the challenges and hardships faced in life.
혼동하기 쉬운
Both 険しい and 急な can mean "steep." However, 急な focuses more on the suddenness or abruptness of a slope, while 険しい emphasizes the ruggedness and difficulty.
険しい implies ruggedness and difficulty, often used for mountains or paths that are hard to traverse. 急な simply means steep or sudden, and can apply to many situations (e.g., a sudden turn, a sudden illness).
急な坂 (kyuuna saka) - a steep slope (could be smooth, just very angled) 急なカーブ (kyuuna kaabu) - a sharp curve
Both 険しい and 厳しい can be translated as "severe" or "strict." The confusion arises when describing situations or conditions.
険しい describes physical severity, like a harsh landscape or a difficult path. 厳しい describes a person's strictness, difficult conditions (like a severe winter), or harsh judgment.
厳しい先生 (kibishii sensei) - a strict teacher 厳しい寒さ (kibishii samusa) - severe cold
荒い can mean rough or wild, which might seem similar to the rugged aspect of 険しい.
険しい refers to terrain that is physically difficult to navigate due to its steepness and ruggedness. 荒い describes things that are coarse, rough, or violent in nature (e.g., rough waves, a rough temper).
荒い波 (arai nami) - rough waves 荒い呼吸 (arai kokyuu) - rough breathing
Both 険しい and 困難な imply difficulty. However, they are used in different contexts.
険しい specifically describes the physical difficulty of a path or terrain. 困難な is a more general term for something being difficult, challenging, or arduous, applicable to tasks, situations, or problems.
困難な問題 (konnan na mondai) - a difficult problem 困難な状況 (konnan na joukyou) - a difficult situation
A 険しい path can often be dangerous, leading to confusion with 危ない.
険しい describes the characteristic of the terrain itself (steep, rugged). 危ない means dangerous or unsafe. While a 険しい path might be 危ない, the words describe different aspects.
危ない場所 (abunai basho) - a dangerous place 危ないから触らないで (abunai kara sawaranai de) - Don't touch it because it's dangerous.
어휘 가족
명사
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
Describing a mountain path
- その山道は険しいです。
- The mountain path is steep.
- 険しい山道を登るのは大変でした。
- Climbing the steep mountain path was tough.
- 初心者には険しすぎる道です。
- It's too steep a path for beginners.
Describing a cliff or rock face
- 険しい崖が目の前に現れた。
- A rugged cliff appeared before us.
- あの岩肌はとても険しいですね。
- That rock face is very rugged, isn't it?
- 険しい断崖絶壁に囲まれています。
- It's surrounded by steep cliffs.
Describing a river's rapids or currents
- この川の険しい流れに注意してください。
- Please be careful of this river's severe currents.
- ボートが険しい急流に流された。
- The boat was swept away by the severe rapids.
- 険しい水流の中を進むのは危険です。
- It's dangerous to proceed through severe currents.
Describing an expression or look (less common, but possible)
- 彼は険しい顔つきで私を見た。
- He looked at me with a severe expression.
- 彼女の表情は険しいものでした。
- Her expression was severe.
- 険しい目で現状を見つめる。
- To look at the current situation with severe eyes.
Figuratively describing a challenging situation or road ahead
- 成功への道は険しいです。
- The path to success is steep/challenging.
- これから険しい道のりが待っています。
- A challenging road lies ahead.
- 厳しい状況は、まさに険しい道のりです。
- A tough situation is truly a steep/challenging path.
대화 시작하기
"一番険しい山道に挑戦したことはありますか？ (Have you ever challenged the steepest mountain path?)"
"旅行中、険しい景色に感動したことはありますか？ (Have you ever been moved by rugged scenery during a trip?)"
"もしハイキングに行くなら、険しい道と緩やかな道、どちらを選びますか？ (If you were to go hiking, would you choose a steep path or a gentle path?)"
"あなたの住んでいる場所の周りに、険しい地形はありますか？ (Are there any rugged terrains around where you live?)"
"人生で一番「険しい」と感じた経験は何ですか？ (What is the most 'challenging' experience you've had in your life?)"
일기 주제
あなたの人生で、これから登るべき「険しい山」は何ですか？ (What 'steep mountain' do you need to climb in your life from now on?)
自然の中で、最も「険しい」と感じた風景について描写してください。 (Describe the scenery in nature that you felt was the most 'rugged'.)
もしあなたが道に迷って険しい場所に来てしまったら、どうしますか？ (What would you do if you got lost and ended up in a rugged place?)
困難な状況を「険しい道のり」と表現するなら、その道のりをどう乗り越えますか？ (If you describe a difficult situation as a 'steep path,' how would you overcome that path?)
「険しい」という言葉から連想される感情やイメージを自由に書き出してください。 (Freely write down the emotions and images associated with the word 'steep'/'rugged'.)
셀프 테스트 66 질문
この山道はとても___です。 (Kono yamamichi wa totemo ___ desu.) - This mountain path is very ___.
「険しい」は道や坂が急であることを表します。
___坂道を登るのは大変です。 (___ sakamichi o noboru no wa taihen desu.) - It's tough to climb a ___ slope.
「険しい」は、坂道が急で登るのが難しい状況を指します。
あの山は___ので、登るには準備が必要です。(Ano yama wa ___ node, noboru ni wa junbi ga hitsuyou desu.) - That mountain is ___, so preparation is needed to climb it.
「険しい」は山が急峻で危険であることを示し、登るには準備が必要となります。
ここは道が___から、気をつけてください。 (Koko wa michi ga ___ kara, ki o tsukete kudasai.) - The path here is ___, so please be careful.
道が「険しい」とは、危険であるか、または進むのが難しいことを意味します。
___山道を歩くのは冒険のようでした。 (___ yamamichi o aruku no wa bouken no you deshita.) - Walking the ___ mountain path felt like an adventure.
「険しい」山道は、困難が伴うものの、それが冒険のように感じられる状況をよく表します。
冬の北アルプスはとても___です。 (Fuyu no Kita Arupusu wa totemo ___ desu.) - The Northern Alps in winter are very ___.
冬の北アルプスは厳しい自然環境であり、「険しい」という言葉がその危険性や困難さを適切に表現します。
Choose the correct kanji for 'yama' (mountain).
The kanji 山 means mountain.
Which word means 'road' or 'path'?
道 (michi) means road or path.
What is the Japanese word for 'tree'?
木 (ki) means tree.
The word 'mizu' (水) means 'fire'.
No, 'mizu' (水) means 'water'. 'Hi' (火) means 'fire'.
The word 'sora' (空) means 'sky'.
Yes, 'sora' (空) means 'sky'.
The word 'ie' (家) means 'car'.
No, 'ie' (家) means 'house'. 'Kuruma' (車) means 'car'.
This is a mountain.
The road is straight.
That road is long.
Read this aloud:
これは公園です。
Focus: ko-en desu
당신의 답변:
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Read this aloud:
道は短いです。
Focus: michi wa mijikai desu
당신의 답변:
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Read this aloud:
これは良い道です。
Focus: ii michi desu
당신의 답변:
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この山道はとても___ので、注意して歩いてください。
The sentence talks about a mountain path that requires careful walking, implying it's difficult or dangerous. '険しい' (steep/rugged) fits this context best.
冬の北海道の天候は___ことが多いです。
Winter weather in Hokkaido is known for being harsh or severe. '険しい' can describe severe weather conditions.
その岩だらけの海岸線は___美しさがありました。
The sentence describes a rocky coastline with a certain beauty. '険しい' (rugged) is the appropriate word to describe such terrain.
新しいプロジェクトは___道のりになるだろうと予想されています。
When talking about a project's '道のり' (path/journey), '険しい' can describe it as difficult or arduous.
彼は___表情で、何も言わなかった。
'険しい' can also describe a person's expression as stern or grim, fitting the context of someone saying nothing.
その地域は___自然に囲まれていて、アクセスが難しい。
If a region is difficult to access due to its surrounding nature, '険しい' (rugged) describes the environment well.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 彼は___山道を登っていった。
「険しい」 (kewashii) means 'steep' or 'rugged', which best describes a mountain path someone is climbing. The sentence means 'He climbed the steep mountain path.'
Which of the following situations would most likely be described as 険しい (kewashii)?
「険しい」 (kewashii) is used to describe terrain that is steep, rugged, or severe, making a rocky, difficult mountain climb the most fitting option.
The hikers faced a ___ path as they ascended the peak.
The Japanese word 「険しい」 (kewashii) directly translates to 'steep' when referring to a path or terrain, indicating a challenging ascent.
「険しい」 (kewashii) can be used to describe a very smooth and easy road.
「険しい」 (kewashii) describes something as steep, rugged, or severe, typically referring to difficult terrain, not a smooth and easy road.
If someone describes a mountain as 「険しい」 (kewashii), they mean it is easy to climb.
When a mountain is described as 「険しい」 (kewashii), it means it is steep or rugged, implying it is difficult and challenging to climb.
You could use 「険しい」 (kewashii) to describe a cliff face.
「険しい」 (kewashii) is perfectly suitable for describing a cliff face, as it means steep, rugged, or severe terrain.
This sentence describes a mountain path as very steep.
This sentence describes someone speaking with a stern or severe expression.
This sentence suggests that their journey will be a difficult or arduous one.
この山の道はとても（ ）ので、初心者には難しいかもしれません。
文脈から、道が「難しい」とあるので、「険しい」が最も適切です。'平ら' (flat), '広い' (wide), '緩やか' (gentle) は文脈に合いません。
彼女の顔には（ ）表情が浮かんでいた。何があったのだろうか。
「険しい」は表情に対しても使われ、厳しい、または深刻な様子を表します。'明るい' (bright), '和やかな' (peaceful), '穏やかな' (calm) は逆の意味です。
冬の北アルプスは（ ）気候で、登山は非常に危険です。
気候が「険しい」は、非常に厳しい、過酷な気候を表します。'暖かい' (warm), '穏やかな' (mild), '涼しい' (cool) は文脈に合いません。
「険しい道」とは、歩きやすい平坦な道のことである。
「険しい道」とは、傾斜がきつく、歩きにくい道のことを指します。平坦な道とは反対の意味です。
顔の表情が「険しい」という場合、それは穏やかで優しい様子を意味する。
顔の表情が「険しい」とは、厳しく、または怒っているような、穏やかではない様子を意味します。
「険しい地形」という言葉は、山岳地帯のような起伏の激しい場所を指す。
「険しい地形」とは、まさに山岳地帯などの起伏が激しく、開発が困難な場所を指します。
The mountain path was unexpectedly steep, and reaching the summit required a lot of effort.
His expression was severe, as if he was facing some serious problem.
The Japanese Alps in winter have harsh, rugged nature, so even experienced climbers cannot let their guard down.
Read this aloud:
この地域の地形は非常に険しいので、装備をしっかり整えてください。
Focus: 険しい
당신의 답변:
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Read this aloud:
その政策変更は国民にとって険しい道のりとなるだろう。
Focus: 険しい道のり
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
彼の顔つきが険しくなり、議論が白熱していることが伺えた。
Focus: 顔つきが険しく
당신의 답변:
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This sentence means 'The path to the summit of that mountain is steep.' The Japanese word 険しい (kewashii) functions as an adjective here, describing the path (道 - michi).
This sentence means 'His expression was severe, showing anger.' Here, 険しい (kewashii) describes 'expression' (表情 - hyoujou) and is used in its adverbial form 険しく (kewashiku) to modify the verb 示していた (shimeshiteita - was showing).
This sentence translates to 'The terrain in this area is very rugged.' 険しい (kewashii) is used to describe the 'terrain' (地形 - chikei). 非常に (hijou ni) means 'very.'
その山の道は___、初心者には難しいでしょう。
文脈から、道の難易度を表す「険しい」が適切です。
彼の表情は___、何か深刻な問題が起こったようだ。
「表情が険しい」は、表情が厳しく、硬い様子を表します。
その断崖絶壁は___、近づくことさえ危険だった。
断崖絶壁の状態を表すのに「険しい」が最も適切です。
冬の山道は雪で覆われ、___増していた。
雪によって道の難易度が上がる様子を表すには「険しさが増す」が自然です。
交渉は___を極め、なかなか合意に至らなかった。
交渉が難航している様子を表す「険しさを極める」が適切です。
彼の言葉の選び方には___があり、相手を不快にさせることがあった。
言葉の厳しさや刺々しさを表す場合に「言葉の険しさ」を使います。
This sentence describes the path to the mountain's summit as steep. The order reflects a natural Japanese sentence structure: [mountain's] [to summit] [path] [is steep].
Here, '険しい' modifies '表情' (expression), indicating a severe or stern look. The sentence order follows: [severe] [expression] [with], [he] [the news] [heard].
This sentence describes the rugged Japanese Alps in winter, emphasizing the need for extreme caution even for experienced climbers. The structure is [winter's] [Japanese Alps'] [rugged] [mountains] [for], [even skilled] [climbers] [meticulous caution] [is necessary].
/ 66 correct
Perfect score!
예시
険しい山道を登るのは大変だ。
관련 콘텐츠
geography 관련 단어
〜を越えて
B1Across or over (a boundary or obstacle).
〜通って
A2Through, via; passing through a place.
近くに
A2Nearby, in the vicinity, or close to.
〜の間に
A2Between, among; indicating a position in relation to others.
〜を通って
A2Through (a place or medium).
移動する
A2To move from one place to another.
下る
A2To descend, go down, or come down.
夜景
A2A night view, typically of a city or landscape.
達する
A2To reach, attain, or get to a point.
超える
A2To cross over, exceed, or go beyond.
