険けん峻しゅん

け

ん

しゅ

ん

Meanings

na-adjective, noun

steep; precipitous

Describes a sharply steep slope or cliff. Literary and somewhat formal; in everyday speech 険しい (けわしい) is more common.

その山やまは険けん峻しゅんな岩がん壁ぺきで知しられている。
The mountain is known for its precipitous rock faces.
険けん峻しゅんな地ち形けいのため、登と山ざんには十じゅう分ぶんな装そう備びが必ひつ要ようだ。
Because of the steep terrain, proper equipment is necessary for climbing.

Kanji

険precipitous, inaccessible place, impregnable position
峻high, steep
嶮inaccessible place, impregnable position, steep place
剣sabre, sword, blade

Related words

険けわしい
Common everyday word for 'steep' or 'rugged'. 険峻 is more literary and emphasizes extreme steepness.
急きゅう峻しゅん
Also means 'steep', but more common than 険峻. 急峻 is often used in geographical descriptions.

Written forms

険けん峻しゅんUsage100%
Standard kanji form for 'steep, precipitous'.
嶮けん峻しゅん
Variant using 嶮 (steep, dangerous) instead of 険; less common.
剣けん峻しゅん
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 剣 means 'sword', not 'steep'. Likely a mistaken or creative spelling.

Etymology

Compound of 険 (steep, dangerous) and 峻 (steep, high). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with steepness.