危机 (wēijī) — crisis
HSK 5 | noun | a critical moment of serious danger, difficulty, or instability
危机 (wēijī)
危机 refers to a critical, unstable situation of serious danger or difficulty that demands urgent attention and decisive action, often representing a turning point.
Meanings
- [noun] crisis (a dangerous or critical turning point situation)
Example Sentences
2008年的全球金融危机导致许多国家经济陷入衰退。 Èr líng líng bā nián de quánqiú jīnróng wēijī dǎozhì xǔduō guójiā jīngjì xiàn rù shuāituì. The 2008 global financial crisis caused many countries' economies to fall into recession.
面对危机，领导者的决策能力和应对速度至关重要。 Miànduì wēijī, lǐngdǎo zhě de juécè nénglì hé yìngduì sùdù zhìguān zhòngyào. When facing a crisis, the decision-making ability and response speed of leaders are crucial.
气候危机已经成为威胁全人类生存的最严峻挑战之一。 Qìhòu wēijī yǐjīng chéngwéi wēixié quán rénlèi shēngcún de zuì yánjùn tiǎozhàn zhī yī. The climate crisis has become one of the most severe challenges threatening the survival of all humanity.
这场公关危机如果处理不当，将对企业品牌造成长期损害。 Zhè chǎng gōngguān wēijī rúguǒ chǔlǐ bù dāng, jiāng duì qǐyè pǐnpái zàochéng chángqī sǔnhài. If this PR crisis is not handled properly, it will cause long-term damage to the company's brand.
中年危机是许多人在生命中段重新审视人生目标的时期。 Zhōngnián wēijī shì xǔduō rén zài shēngmìng zhōng duàn chóngxīn shěnshì rénshēng mùbiāo de shíqī. The midlife crisis is a period when many people reassess their life goals in the middle of their lives.
政府迅速采取措施，有效防止了危机的进一步扩散。 Zhèngfǔ xùnsù cǎiqǔ cuòshī, yǒuxiào fángzhǐ le wēijī de jìnyībù kuòsàn. The government quickly took measures to effectively prevent the further spread of the crisis.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 金融危机 | financial crisis |
| 应对危机 | to respond to a crisis |
| 危机管理 | crisis management |
| 公关危机 | PR crisis |
| 危机意识 | crisis awareness |
| 化解危机 | to defuse a crisis |
Usage Notes
危机 is composed of two characters with opposite implications: 危 (danger/peril) and 机 (opportunity/turning point). This dual meaning is often highlighted in Chinese discourse: a crisis is both a danger and an opportunity for change. The saying 危机=危险+机遇 (crisis = danger + opportunity) is a well-known Chinese interpretation that influences how the word is discussed.
危机 covers a wide range: financial crises, political crises, humanitarian crises, personal crises, and environmental crises. The phrase 危机意识 (crisis awareness/sense of urgency) is important in business and governance contexts, referring to the awareness of potential threats and the need for preparedness.
Memory Hook
危 is danger and 机 is opportunity -- 危机 is that electric moment where danger and opportunity collide, the turning point where things can go very wrong or, if handled right, remarkably well.