The word captures the combined essence of extreme height, steepness, and inherent danger in natural landscapes.
Word in 30 Seconds
- High, steep, and dangerous terrain.
- Commonly describes mountains or cliffs.
- Used in formal or literary contexts.
Overview
- 1概述：‘险峻’是一个极具画面感的形容词，由‘险’（危险）和‘峻’（高而陡）两个字组成。它不仅描述了物理上的高度和坡度，还隐含了一种令人敬畏或感到危险的气氛。2) 用法特点：该词常用于书面语，多作为定语修饰名词（如‘险峻的山峰’），或作为谓语描述地势（如‘这里地势险峻’）。它通常带有宏大、壮丽的感情色彩。3) 常见语境：最常出现在文学作品、游记、地理描述以及军事分析中。例如，在描写名山大川时，‘险峻’能体现大自然的鬼斧神工。4) 词义辨析：与‘陡峭’相比，‘险峻’更强调‘险’，即危险的程度；与‘崎岖’相比，‘险峻’侧重于垂直方向的高和陡，而‘崎岖’侧重于水平方向的路面不平、多阻碍。此外，‘峻拔’则更侧重于挺拔、高耸，危险的意味较淡。
Examples
这里的山路非常险峻，大家要小心。
everydayThe mountain roads here are very steep and dangerous; everyone should be careful.
该地区地势险峻，构成了天然的军事屏障。
formalThe terrain in this area is precipitous, forming a natural military barrier.
看那山，陡得吓人，真是险峻！
informalLook at that mountain, it's scarily steep, truly precipitous!
地质考察显示，由于板块挤压，此地形成了险峻的山脉。
academicGeological surveys show that due to plate compression, precipitous mountain ranges were formed here.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
险峻异常
unusually precipitous
山高路险
high mountains and dangerous roads
奇峰险峻
strange and precipitous peaks
Often Confused With
Focuses purely on the vertical angle or slope, whereas 险峻 adds a connotation of danger and grandeur.
Used for abstract situations like 'severe challenges' or 'stern expressions', never for physical mountains.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The word is predominantly formal and literary. It is used to describe physical geography, specifically mountains and cliffs. While it implies danger, it is often used in a positive or neutral sense to describe the majesty of nature. It should not be used to describe abstract concepts like 'severe competition' (use 激烈 or 严峻 instead).
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 险峻 to describe a difficult situation or a person's character. For example, saying '这个问题很险峻' is incorrect; it should be '这个问题很严峻'. Another mistake is using it for a road that is just bumpy but not high or steep.
Tips
Use it for dramatic scenery descriptions
When writing a travel blog or a story, use '险峻' to emphasize the intimidating beauty of a mountain range.
Avoid using it for flat roads
If a road is just bumpy or full of holes, use '崎岖' (qíqū) instead of '险峻'.
Connection to Chinese Landscape Painting
In traditional Chinese art, '险峻' peaks are a common theme, symbolizing the grand power of nature and the spirit of the hermit.
Word Origin
The character 险 (xiǎn) originally referred to a narrow pass or obstruction. 峻 (jùn) combines the mountain radical (山) with a phonetic component meaning 'great' or 'high'. Together, they have described formidable mountain landscapes for centuries in Chinese literature.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, '险峻' mountains like Huashan are often associated with the 'immortal' path in Taoism, where the difficulty of the climb represents the difficulty of spiritual cultivation.
Memory Tip
Break it down: 险 (Xiǎn) means 'danger' and 峻 (Jùn) means 'high/steep'. If a mountain is both high and dangerous, it is 险峻.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions通常不可以。‘险峻’主要用于形容自然地理环境。如果形容人的性格阴险，应使用‘阴险’；如果形容人面临的形势，可以使用‘严峻’。
‘陡峭’侧重于坡度大，几乎垂直；而‘险峻’不仅指坡度大，还强调因为高和陡而产生的危险感。
它是一个中性偏褒义的词，常用于赞叹大自然的壮美，虽然含有危险之意，但更多表现的是一种雄伟的气势。
在日常口语中相对少见，人们通常会说‘这山太陡了’。‘险峻’更多出现在书面写作或正式的风景介绍中。
Test Yourself
华山以其___的地势闻名于世，吸引了无数勇敢的登山者。
华山以陡峭和危险著称，‘险峻’最符合语境。‘平坦’和‘宽阔’意思相反，‘崎岖’侧重路不平。
选择搭配不当的一项：
‘险峻’不能修饰抽象的‘问题’，形容问题严重应使用‘严峻’。
地势 / 这里的 / 十分 / 险峻
标准的‘主语+程度副词+谓语形容词’结构。
Score: /3
Summary
The word captures the combined essence of extreme height, steepness, and inherent danger in natural landscapes.
- High, steep, and dangerous terrain.
- Commonly describes mountains or cliffs.
- Used in formal or literary contexts.
Use it for dramatic scenery descriptions
When writing a travel blog or a story, use '险峻' to emphasize the intimidating beauty of a mountain range.
Avoid using it for flat roads
If a road is just bumpy or full of holes, use '崎岖' (qíqū) instead of '险峻'.
Connection to Chinese Landscape Painting
In traditional Chinese art, '险峻' peaks are a common theme, symbolizing the grand power of nature and the spirit of the hermit.
Examples
4 of 4这里的山路非常险峻，大家要小心。
The mountain roads here are very steep and dangerous; everyone should be careful.
该地区地势险峻，构成了天然的军事屏障。
The terrain in this area is precipitous, forming a natural military barrier.
看那山，陡得吓人，真是险峻！
Look at that mountain, it's scarily steep, truly precipitous!
地质考察显示，由于板块挤压，此地形成了险峻的山脉。
Geological surveys show that due to plate compression, precipitous mountain ranges were formed here.
Related Content
Related Vocabulary
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
