A steep, often sheer rock face; used in both literal and figurative contexts (e.g., 断崖絶壁).
The road ran along the top of a cliff.
Looking down from the precipice, the waves were crashing against the rocks.
precipitous cliff; sheer precipice · critical situation; precipice (figurative)
Compound of 断 (cut off, sever) and 崖 (cliff), literally 'sheer cliff'. The reading is on'yomi.