Meaning and Usage
"危険" (きけん) means "danger," "risk," or "hazard." It is commonly used to describe situations, places, or actions that could cause harm or pose a threat to safety.
Common Contexts
You will often see "危険" used in warnings, such as signs or instructions, to alert people to potential dangers. It can describe physical danger (like dangerous roads or places) or abstract risks (such as risky behavior).
Collocations and Patterns
- 危険な場所 (きけんなばしょ): dangerous place — used to warn about unsafe areas.
- 危険を伴う (きけんをともなう): to involve risk — often used to describe actions or situations that carry inherent danger.
- 危険性が高い (きけんせいがたかい): high risk — used in formal or technical contexts to assess danger levels.
Register and Nuance
"危険" is a neutral to formal word and is appropriate in both spoken and written Japanese. It is often seen in official warnings and safety instructions. When speaking casually, people might use simpler expressions like "あぶない" (dangerous).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "危険" with "あぶない," which also means dangerous but is more casual and used more often in everyday conversation. Use "危険" when you want to sound more formal or when referring to official warnings.