險

• Physical/Topographic: A precipice, steep slope, or rugged mountain pass.
• Strategic/Military: A choke point or defensible position; the utility of terrain for defense (e.g., a place that can be held by a few).
• Abstract/General: Peril, danger, or precariousness.
• Metaphorical: Treachery or a hazardous nature when applied to character or politics.

• Noun: A pass, a precipice, or a state of danger.
• Adjective: Steep, rugged, perilous, or treacherous.
• Note: This glyph does not typically function as a primary verb.

• vs. 危 (wēi): While both denote danger, 危 typically suggests instability or the threat of falling/collapsing; 險 emphasizes the difficulty of crossing or the feeling of being trapped by terrain.
• vs. 隘 (ài): Both describe narrow passes. 隘 focuses on constriction (the "pinch"), whereas 險 focuses on steepness and the resulting risk.

// Tang-period reading: //xyɛ̌m.

• Simplified variant: 险 (U+9669).