険けわしい

け

わ

し

い

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

i-adjective

steep; rugged; precipitous

Describes physically steep, rugged, or difficult-to-climb terrain. Often used for mountains, cliffs, or paths.

この山やまは険けわしいので、初しょ心しん者しゃにはおすすめできません。
This mountain is steep, so I can't recommend it for beginners.

険けわしい崖がけの上うえに小ちいさな神じん社じゃがあった。

There was a small shrine on top of the rugged cliff.

2

i-adjective

grim; severe; stern

Figurative use for a person's expression, attitude, or a situation that is harsh, stern, or forbidding. Common with 表情, 顔つき, 道のり, etc.

父ちちは険けわしい顔かおで私わたしを見みつめた。
My father stared at me with a stern face.
交こう渉しょうは険けわしい道みちのりになるだろう。
The negotiations will likely be a grim path.

Written forms

険けわしいUsage82%
Standard kanji spelling for both physical steepness and figurative severity.
けわしいUsage15%
嶮けわしいUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

険precipitous, inaccessible place, impregnable position
嶮inaccessible place, impregnable position, steep place

Similar words

急きゅう
急 describes a steep slope or sudden change, but lacks the rugged, forbidding nuance of 険しい.
厳きびしい
厳しい means strict or severe, often for rules, training, or judgment, while 険しい emphasizes a grim or stern appearance or a harsh, difficult situation.

Etymology

The kanji 険 (steep, dangerous) and the adjective ending しい combine to express a state of being steep or harsh. The historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since classical Japanese for both physical and figurative steepness.