濒危 (bīnwēi) — Endangered, on the verge of danger
HSK 5 | adjective | on the brink of danger or extinction; endangered
濒危 (bīnwēi)
濒危 describes a state of being on the verge of a crisis or extinction -- most commonly used for endangered species, but also applicable to languages, cultures, or situations facing imminent collapse.
Meanings
- [adj] endangered; on the brink of extinction; critically threatened
Example Sentences
大熊猫曾经是濒危物种，经过多年保护，数量有所回升。 Dàxióngmāo céngjīng shì bīnwēi wùzhǒng, jīngguò duō nián bǎohù, shùliàng yǒu suǒ huíshēng. The giant panda was once an endangered species; after years of protection, its numbers have recovered somewhat.
全球有数千种濒危动物面临灭绝的威胁。 Quánqiú yǒu shù qiān zhǒng bīnwēi dòngwù miànlín mièjué de wēixié. Thousands of endangered animals around the world face the threat of extinction.
栖息地破坏是许多物种变成濒危物种的主要原因。 Qīxīdì pòhuài shì xǔduō wùzhǒng biànchéng bīnwēi wùzhǒng de zhǔyào yuányīn. Habitat destruction is the main reason why many species become endangered.
国际社会正在共同努力拯救濒危物种。 Guójì shèhuì zhèngzài gòngtóng nǔlì zhěngjiù bīnwēi wùzhǒng. The international community is working together to save endangered species.
这种语言只有几十位老年人还在使用，已经属于濒危语言。 Zhè zhǒng yǔyán zhǐ yǒu jǐ shí wèi lǎonián rén hái zài shǐyòng, yǐjīng shǔyú bīnwēi yǔyán. This language is only spoken by a few dozen elderly people and is already classified as an endangered language.
保护濒危物种是维护生物多样性的重要组成部分。 Bǎohù bīnwēi wùzhǒng shì wéihù shēngwù duōyàng xìng de zhòngyào zǔchéng bùfèn. Protecting endangered species is an important part of maintaining biodiversity.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 濒危物种 | endangered species |
| 濒危动物 | endangered animal |
| 濒危语言 | endangered language |
| 保护濒危物种 | protect endangered species |
| 濒危名单 | endangered list |
| 极度濒危 | critically endangered |
Usage Notes
濒危 comes from 濒 (on the verge of/bordering on) + 危 (danger/crisis). The character 濒 is related to 濒临 (bīnlín, to be on the verge of), which is a verb meaning "to be close to" a critical point. So 濒危 can also be seen as a shortened form of 濒临危险 (on the verge of danger).
While 濒危 most commonly refers to biological species facing extinction, it is also used for endangered languages, traditional crafts, and cultural practices. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification system uses terms like 极危 (critically endangered), 濒危 (endangered), and 易危 (vulnerable) in Chinese.
Memory Hook
濒 = on the verge of (near water's edge, about to fall in), 危 = danger -- on the verge of danger -- endangered.