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危急 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
危急wēijícriticalHSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #10224, Very Hard
危急wēijídesperate (situation)HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, rank #10224, Very Hard
wēijí(wei1ji2)wei ji T1
  1. 1critical
  2. 2desperate (situation)
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March 24, 2026

危急wēijí(wei1ji2)

危急 refers to a critical or desperate situation where immediate action is necessary. It is often used to describe emergencies or scenarios requiring urgent attention, highlighting the potential for danger or severe consequences.

Strokes15Frequency#10224DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 危急 situations often evoke a collective sense of responsibility, as community and family ties play a significant role in how emergencies are addressed. This reflects the cultural importance of support networks in times of crisis.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person on a precarious ledge (危) above a deep abyss (急), representing a 'critical' moment where one wrong move could lead to disaster. The visual of danger (危) and urgency (急) connects the pronunciation 'wei1 ji2' to the feeling of being on the edge.

Meanings of 危急

wēijí(wei1ji2)
1critical
2desperate (situation)
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About 危急

危急Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 危急

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AI Study Notes for 危急

Quick Contrast

危机 (crisis) vs 危急 (critical) — use 危急 when emphasizing the immediacy and urgency of the situation, whereas 危机 refers more broadly to a critical condition or turning point.

Usage Notes

Beware of using 危急 in overly casual contexts, as it conveys serious urgency. Common collocations include 危急时刻 (critical moment) and 危急情况 (urgent situation). Ensure correct tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing the tones can change the word's meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 危急 is not a specific HSK vocabulary word, it connects with HSK Level 4 terms related to emergencies, such as 救助 (jiùzhù, to rescue) and 危险 (wēixiǎn, danger). Students should focus on understanding the context of urgency and related verbs.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 危急 with similar-sounding words like 轻松 (qīngsōng, relaxed), which conveys a completely opposite meaning. Remember that 危急 indicates urgency and seriousness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 危急

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Component Characters

危Wēidanger
6 strokes㔾
View full entry
急jíurgent
HSK 39 strokes心
View full entry

How to say critical in Chinese

“critical” in Chinese is危急wēijí

危急 refers to a critical or desperate situation where immediate action is necessary. It is often used to describe emergencies or scenarios requiring urgent attention, highlighting the potential for danger or severe consequences.

When to use 危急

Beware of using 危急 in overly casual contexts, as it conveys serious urgency. Common collocations include 危急时刻 (critical moment) and 危急情况 (urgent situation). Ensure correct tone pronunciation, as mispronouncing the tones can change the word's meaning.

危急 or something close to it

危机 (crisis) vs 危急 (critical) — use 危急 when emphasizing the immediacy and urgency of the situation, whereas 危机 refers more broadly to a critical condition or turning point.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 危急 with similar-sounding words like 轻松 (qīngsōng, relaxed), which conveys a completely opposite meaning. Remember that 危急 indicates urgency and seriousness.

Write 危急

危
急

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Frequently Asked Questions about 危急

Yes, but it is typically reserved for serious situations, so use it carefully.

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