険けわしい

け

わ

し

い

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

険しい · i-adjective

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	険けわしい	険けわしくない
Polite	険けわしいです	険けわしくないですalso 険けわしくありません
Past polite	険けわしかったです	険けわしくなかったですalso 険けわしくありませんでした
Past	険けわしかった	険けわしくなかった
Te-form	険けわしくて	険けわしくなくて
Adverbial	険けわしく
Conditional	険けわしければ	険けわしくなければ
Tara conditional	険けわしかったら	険けわしくなかったら

Meanings

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.

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.

See all 72 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉への道みちが険けわしいthe road to <place> is steep and rugged
山さん頂ちょうへの道みちはとても険けわしかった。
The road to the summit was very steep and rugged.
表ひょう情じょうが険けわしくなるone's expression turns grim/stern
その話はなしを聞きくと、彼かれの表ひょう情じょうが険けわしくなった。
When he heard the story, his expression turned grim.
険けわしい道どうのりを歩あゆむto walk a difficult, arduous path (figuratively)
彼かれは険けわしい道どうのりを歩あゆんで成せい功こうをつかんだ。
He walked a difficult path before achieving success.

Expressions· 7

険けわしい声こえsharp voice; harsh tone
険けわしい山やまsteep mountain; craggy mountain
険けわしい目めgrim stare; stern look
険けわしい顔かおgrim face; stern look; severe expression
険けわしい表ひょう情じょうstern expression; severe expression; grim expression

Show 2 more

険けわしい言こと葉ばharsh language; sharp words
険けわしい顔かおつきgrim look; stern expression

Kanji

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

Related words

急きゅうN3sense 1
急 describes a steep slope or sudden change, but lacks the rugged, forbidding nuance that 険しい carries.
厳きびしいN4sense 2
厳しい means strict or severe, often for rules or training, while 険しい emphasizes a grim, stern appearance or harsh situation.
急きゅう峻しゅん sense 1
急峻 is a more formal, written word for steep and rugged terrain, while 険しい is the common everyday adjective for the same idea.

Opposites

なだらかN2sense 1
なだらか describes a gentle, gradual slope, the opposite of the rugged, steep terrain that 険しい describes.
穏おだやかN3sense 2
穏やか describes a calm, mild expression or manner, the opposite of the grim, stern look that 険しい describes.
柔にゅう和わ
険しい describes a harsh, sharp, or stern expression, the direct opposite of the soft, gentle look described by 柔和.
平へい坦たん
険しい describes steep, rugged terrain, the opposite of the smooth, level ground described by 平坦.

Don't confuse with

詳くわしいN4
詳しい (くわしい, 'detailed/knowledgeable') and 険しい (けわしい, 'steep/harsh') sound similar and are easy to mix up despite having unrelated meanings.
険けん悪あくN1
険しい (steep, harsh) shares the kanji 険 with 険悪 but describes terrain or a severe look/manner rather than an overall hostile atmosphere or relationship.
鋭するどいN3
険しい describes a steep, harsh, or severe look/terrain, while 鋭い describes a piercing sharpness in a gaze or tone, so 険しい表情 and 鋭い表情 overlap but are not identical.

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.

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.