冒险
Traditional: 冒險
mào xiǎn HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他喜欢冒险旅行。
Tā xǐhuan màoxiǎn lǚxíng.
He likes adventurous travel.
不要冒险做决定。
Búyào màoxiǎn zuò juédìng.
Don't take risks when making decisions.
这次冒险很危险。
Zhè cì màoxiǎn hěn wēixiǎn.
This adventure is very dangerous.
他喜欢冒险。
Tā xǐhuan màoxiǎn.
He likes to take risks.
冒险很刺激。
Màoxiǎn hěn cìjī.
Adventure is very exciting.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 冒 (mào) means 'to brave' or 'to emit,' and 险 (xiǎn) means 'danger.' Think of it as 'braving danger'—you're putting yourself out there into risky situations. Associate it with adventurous activities like mountain climbing or starting a new business.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and used in both spoken and written Chinese. It commonly appears in contexts discussing personal decisions, business ventures, sports, or adventurous activities. It can be used as a verb (e.g., 冒险尝试) or a noun (e.g., 一次冒险).

📖 Grammar Points

As a verb, it can be used directly (e.g., 别冒险) or with complements (e.g., 冒险去做). It often pairs with auxiliary verbs like 敢 (敢冒险) or 想 (想冒险). As a noun, it can be modified by measure words like 次 (一次冒险).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 冒险 can carry both positive connotations (e.g., innovation, bravery) and negative ones (e.g., recklessness). Traditionally, caution is valued, but modern contexts, like business or technology, often encourage calculated risk-taking. It's a common theme in literature and media about exploration or entrepreneurship.

🔄 Similar Words

冒险 differs from 风险 (fēngxiǎn), which is a noun meaning 'risk' itself, not the act of taking it. It is also distinct from 大胆 (dàdǎn, 'bold'), which describes courage without necessarily implying danger. 探险 (tànxiǎn) means 'to explore' and often involves adventure but focuses more on discovery than pure risk-taking.

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