fengxian: 风险 - Risk, Hazard, Danger

• Keywords: 风险, fengxian, Chinese for risk, what is fengxian, financial risk in Chinese, risk management China, how to say risk in Mandarin, 风险 meaning, business risk Chinese, investment risk.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 风险 (fēngxiǎn), the direct equivalent of “risk” in English. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical use in modern China, from financial investment and business management to discussions about health and safety. Discover how 风险 (fēngxiǎn) is a cornerstone concept for understanding Chinese perspectives on opportunity, danger, and prudence.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fēnɡxiǎn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: “Risk” or “hazard,” referring to a potential, often calculable, danger or negative outcome.
• In a Nutshell: 风险 (fēngxiǎn) is the standard, formal word for “risk.” While it can be used in a general sense, its home turf is in more serious contexts like finance, business, insurance, and safety reports. It describes the possibility of something bad happening, much like its English counterpart, but carries a slightly more formal and analytical weight.

• 风 (fēng): Wind. This character represents an unpredictable, invisible, and powerful force of nature. It brings the idea of uncontrollability and change into the word.
• 险 (xiǎn): Danger, perilous, a steep place. The left radical `阝` (fù) is a variant of `阜`, meaning “mound” or “hill,” and is associated with terrain. The character evokes the image of navigating a dangerous cliff or treacherous pass.
• The characters combine to create a vivid image: “the danger of the wind”. This metaphorically represents a situation where you are exposed to unpredictable forces that could lead to a negative outcome—the very essence of risk.

In both Chinese and Western cultures, 风险 (fēngxiǎn) is a fundamental concept in economics and decision-making. However, the cultural attitude towards it can differ. While the American business ethos often celebrates “high-risk, high-reward” ventures and a “fail fast” mentality, traditional Chinese culture often places a higher value on 稳健 (wěnjiàn)—prudence, stability, and soundness. The goal is often to minimize 风险 rather than to aggressively seek it out for maximum gain. This isn't to say that risk-taking doesn't happen, but there's a strong cultural emphasis on careful calculation, long-term stability, and avoiding loss. This can be seen in the common phrase 投资有风险，入市需谨慎 (Tóuzī yǒu fēngxiǎn, rùshì xū jǐnshèn), meaning “Investment has risks; enter the market with caution.” This is a standard disclaimer in China's financial world, reflecting a societal reminder to be wary and prepared. In China, managing 风险 is often seen not just as a personal or corporate responsibility, but also as a key role of the government in ensuring social stability.

风险 (fēngxiǎn) is a common and indispensable term in formal and semi-formal contexts.

• Finance and Business: This is where you will hear 风险 most frequently. It's used to discuss market volatility, credit, and strategy.
  • `投资风险 (tóuzī fēngxiǎn)` - Investment risk
  • `市场风险 (shìchǎng fēngxiǎn)` - Market risk
  • `风险管理 (fēngxiǎn guǎnlǐ)` - Risk management
  • `风险投资 (fēngxiǎn tóuzī)` - Venture capital (literally “risk investment”)
• Health and Safety: Used in public announcements, insurance policies, and medical discussions.
  • `健康风险 (jiànkāng fēngxiǎn)` - Health risk
  • `安全风险 (ānquán fēngxiǎn)` - Safety risk
• General Decision-Making: It can be used for major life decisions where the outcome is uncertain.
  • `这个决定有很大的职业风险。(Zhège juédìng yǒu hěn dà de zhíyè fēngxiǎn.)` - This decision has big career risks.

• Example 1:
  • 投资有风险，入市需谨慎。
  • Pinyin: Tóuzī yǒu fēngxiǎn, rùshì xū jǐnshèn.
  • English: Investment involves risk; one must be cautious when entering the market.
  • Analysis: This is a ubiquitous set phrase in China's financial sector. It's a classic example of 风险 used in its primary context.
• Example 2:
  • 这个项目的风险太高了，我们最好重新考虑一下。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù de fēngxiǎn tài gāo le, wǒmen zuìhǎo chóngxīn kǎolǜ yīxià.
  • English: The risk of this project is too high; we'd better reconsider it.
  • Analysis: A common sentence in a business meeting. Note how 风险 is quantified with `高 (gāo)` - high.
• Example 3:
  • 我们必须评估所有潜在的风险。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū pínggū suǒyǒu qiánzài de fēngxiǎn.
  • English: We must evaluate all potential risks.
  • Analysis: `评估风险 (pínggū fēngxiǎn)` meaning “to evaluate/assess risk” is a very common and useful collocation.
• Example 4:
  • 他愿意承担这个风险以获得更高的回报。
  • Pinyin: Tā yuànyì chéngdān zhège fēngxiǎn yǐ huòdé gèng gāo de huíbào.
  • English: He is willing to bear this risk to get a higher return.
  • Analysis: `承担风险 (chéngdān fēngxiǎn)` means “to bear/undertake a risk,” a formal phrase for accepting responsibility for potential negative outcomes.
• Example 5:
  • 吸烟会增加患病的风险。
  • Pinyin: Xīyān huì zēngjiā huàn bìng de fēngxiǎn.
  • English: Smoking increases the risk of getting sick.
  • Analysis: This shows 风险 being used in a health context. `增加风险 (zēngjiā fēngxiǎn)` means “to increase risk.”
• Example 6:
  • 这家公司的主要风险来自不稳定的现金流。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā gōngsī de zhǔyào fēngxiǎn láizì bù wěndìng de xiànjīnliú.
  • English: This company's main risk comes from its unstable cash flow.
  • Analysis: Here, 风险 is used to pinpoint a specific business problem.
• Example 7:
  • 买保险是为了降低生活中的财务风险。
  • Pinyin: Mǎi bǎoxiǎn shì wèile jiàngdī shēnghuó zhōng de cáiwù fēngxiǎn.
  • English: Buying insurance is for the purpose of reducing financial risks in life.
  • Analysis: This sentence links the concept of `保险 (bǎoxiǎn - insurance)` directly to its purpose: managing `风险`.
• Example 8:
  • 你必须意识到其中的风险。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū yìshí dào qízhōng de fēngxiǎn.
  • English: You must be aware of the risks involved.
  • Analysis: A common warning. `意识到 (yìshí dào)` means “to realize” or “to be conscious of.”
• Example 9:
  • 我们正在制定一个风险控制计划。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhèngzài zhìdìng yīgè fēngxiǎn kòngzhì jìhuà.
  • English: We are currently formulating a risk control plan.
  • Analysis: `风险控制 (fēngxiǎn kòngzhì)` is another key business term for “risk control.”
• Example 10:
  • 机遇与风险并存。
  • Pinyin: Jīyù yǔ fēngxiǎn bìngcún.
  • English: Opportunity and risk coexist.
  • Analysis: A sophisticated phrase showing the duality of many situations. It highlights that you often can't have one without the other.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 风险 (fēngxiǎn) and 危险 (wēixiǎn).

• 风险 (fēngxiǎn) - Risk: An abstract, potential, often calculable possibility of loss or harm. It's about probability and uncertainty.
  • Correct: 股市有风险。(Gǔshì yǒu fēngxiǎn.) - The stock market has risks.
  • Incorrect: 股市有危险。(Gǔshì yǒu wēixiǎn.) - This sounds strange, as if the stock market itself is a physically dangerous place.
• 危险 (wēixiǎn) - Danger: An immediate, concrete, and often physical threat. It describes a situation that is actively unsafe right now.
  • Correct: 在高速公路上开车太快很危险。(Zài gāosù gōnglù shàng kāichē tài kuài hěn wēixiǎn.) - Driving too fast on the highway is very dangerous.
  • Incorrect: 在高速公路上开车太快有风险。(Zài gāosù gōnglù shàng kāichē tài kuài yǒu fēngxiǎn.) - While technically true, this sounds overly analytical and detached. 危险 is the more natural and urgent word here.

Rule of Thumb: If you can talk about it in a spreadsheet, it's probably 风险 (fēngxiǎn). If it makes you feel immediate fear for your safety, it's probably 危险 (wēixiǎn).

• 危险 (wēixiǎn) - Danger. An immediate threat, whereas 风险 is a potential or abstract one.
• 保险 (bǎoxiǎn) - Insurance. A primary tool used to transfer and mitigate 风险.
• 投资 (tóuzī) - Investment. An activity that is defined by its inherent 风险 and potential for reward.
• 危机 (wēijī) - Crisis. A situation where a 风险 has been realized, leading to a major, unstable, and dangerous problem.
• 机遇 (jīyù) - Opportunity. The positive potential that often exists alongside 风险.
• 挑战 (tiǎozhàn) - Challenge. An obstacle to overcome, often involving 风险, but with a focus on the difficulty rather than the potential loss.
• 稳健 (wěnjiàn) - Prudent, sound, stable. A quality or strategy focused on minimizing 风险.
• 冒险 (màoxiǎn) - To take a risk, to go on an adventure (verb/noun). This implies actively choosing to enter a risky situation, often for excitement or great reward. It has a more adventurous connotation than simply `承担风险 (chéngdān fēngxiǎn)`.