<p>no "危机" doesn't mean danger + oppuntunity. It means dangerous times or crisis. It only means danger (危) + opportuniy (机) when we artifically separate the two words and attempt to interpret each word on its own. </p>

<p>An easy example off the top my head is "小心". It means "be careful". It is incorrect to separate the two words and re-interpret their meanings as "小" (small, tiny), "心" (heart). Being careful is not the same as having a small heart.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-20T18:35:51.443Z
Thank you, this is what the accepted answer is stating as well (although in a briefer way).
Lars Andren
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-03T16:31:29.977Z
2014-08-03T22:32:23.640Z
2014-08-03T22:32:23.640Z
microbe
<p>"機" in "危機" means the tendency of occurrence. (說文解字: 機之用主於發。故凡主發者皆謂之機。)  It carries a neutral meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-03T03:52:47.647Z
2014-08-03T03:52:47.647Z
Henry HO
<p>I've never heard "危险机会", and I don't think it is valid in Chinese.</p>

<p>"危机" does not carry the meaning of "opportunity".</p>

<p>However, there are always opportunities in a crisis situation. Sometimes the ability of a person can be only shown in crisis situations. So a crisis is sometimes considered as an opportunity to appeal one's ability in achieve some task. And in overcoming a crisis, people can get various award or promotion. This should be how "危机" is linked to opportunity.</p>

<p>EDIT:</p>

<p>With respect the different crises given by the OP in the comment, "危机" can be used for all of them. However, a disaster can be a crisis to a country, and a missing deadline is only a crisis for a single person.</p>

<p>"危机" is used to refer to severe situations. There would not be "fortunate" ones.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-16T09:52:27.363Z
2012-01-16T12:58:32.217Z
2012-01-16T12:58:32.217Z
fefe
<p>As others have clearly demonstrated, <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%8D%B1%E6%9C%BA" rel="nofollow noreferrer">危机</a> does not simply break apart into</p>

<ol>
<li><a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%8D%B1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">危</a> short for <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E5%8D%B1%E9%99%A9" rel="nofollow noreferrer">危险</a> (danger) and</li>
<li><a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E6%9C%BA" rel="nofollow noreferrer">机</a> short for <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E6%9C%BA%E4%BC%9A" rel="nofollow noreferrer">机会</a> or <a href="http://youdao.com/w/%E6%9C%BA%E9%81%87" rel="nofollow noreferrer">机遇</a> (opportunity).</li>
</ol>

<p>In short, that's not how Chinese works.  However, it is sometimes used idiomatically.  Examples:</p>

<ol>
<li>危机，既是危险也是机遇 (<a href="http://www.sohu.com/a/145186419_784258" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>)</li>
<li>危机等于危险加机遇「危机中的机遇」 (<a href="http://www.rhlawyer.com/falvwenben/2018/1225/11675.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>)</li>
<li>危机，有危险也有机遇 (<a href="http://www.360doc.com/content/08/1112/23/21414_1914060.shtml" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>)</li>
<li>危机传播：危机与机遇并存 (<a href="https://tieba.baidu.com/p/6041086973?red_tag=2825798515" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>)</li>
<li>危机=危险+机遇 (<a href="https://club.1688.com/threadview/49025110.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>)</li>
</ol>

<p>Searing Baidu for <a href="https://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%E5%8D%B1%E6%9C%BA%20%E5%8D%B1%E9%99%A9%20%E6%9C%BA%E9%81%87" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>危机 危险 机遇</code></a> gives many pages of examples.  It may have evolved from improper usage, but that's how languages develop.</p>

<p>In English, we might say <strong><em>there's no I in team</em></strong>.  Obviously, there's a whole lot of words that don't contain I (and my sister likes to point out how there's an "m" and an "e"); it's illogical to think it has the same implications for every non-I-containing word.  You're meant to forego the literal meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-23T23:40:48.467Z
The *I in team* is a nice analogy. I also think that the key to the explanation is in the idomatic use of Chinese and its very specific fusion of characters with totally different meanings over several millenia, which is also visible in single sinograms. Nobody would interprete good 好 as a woman with child today or deduce that a man 男has to be strong enough to till a field. But those relationships, even thousand of years ago, are undeniable.
Dirk
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-28T09:27:26.357Z
A very interesting and well-written answer, I like this a lot. Excellent input! So idiomatically in a longer phrase that explains it like 危机与机会并存/机遇与挑战并存, yes the meaning is there, becuase " 危机" and "机会" are both there. By itself "危机" does not bear that meaning.
Lars Andren
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-28T09:05:44.587Z
2019-11-28T09:05:44.587Z
Becky 李蓓
<p>QUOTE:- "Contextually 机 appears in lots of words where it doesn't bring the meaning of "opportunity"</p>

<p>That's not entirely true, for in other areas it does. We therefore have  机 不 可 失， (don't let slip an opportunity)</p>

<p>Please don't get me wrong. I am not disputing that 机 does have many other meanings, context which have nothing to do with "opportunity"</p>

<p>Such as machine, engine, 生 机，(lease of life), etc, as Kenny Li correctly pointed out. I am saying that he has not explored the wider range of uses for 机</p>

<p>We therefore also have areas where 机, (used singularly), means opportunity, such 机 遇，(favorable opportunity)，and 趁 机, (take or seize the opportunity) </p>

<p>The point is that there is nothing contextually, linguistically wrong or improper to read  or interpret the 机 in 危 机 as "opportunity"</p>

<p>And therefore when people, motivational speakers, politicians say that in a crisis, a 危 机 situation of danger, there are also opportunities to be seized or had by, if you like, unscrupulous opportunists, (as in a war, there are opportunities for gun runners), I have no particular linguistic objections.  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-16T11:23:06.787Z
Insightful and well written! I think your examples really put another twist to this topic.
Lars Andren
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2019-11-28T07:53:11.053Z
2019-11-28T12:17:02.823Z
2019-11-28T12:17:02.823Z
Wayne Cheah
<p>"危机" is not short for "危险机会". never heard that.</p>

<p>it means "danger",but more serious than general "danger"!</p>

<p>For Example,if the company has some critical trouble,we can say that the company has "危机".
 By contrast,it also has chance to put the company back on its feet.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-07T07:08:04.530Z
False. Please see K. Shen's accepted answer for very descriptive and complete analysis of this question.
Lars Andren
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2013-11-14T01:27:12.800Z
oh sorry,I've always used  危機 in my way.....
i'll check it.  thx!
Lily Yu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-06T04:56:14.040Z
2013-11-06T04:56:14.040Z
Lily Yu
<p>Does 危機 really mean both crisis and opportunity?</p>

<p>Yes or No.</p>

<p>No, when Chinese saying this word with no second thought, we don't imply the meaning of opportunity.</p>

<p>Yes, you still can "interpret" this word separately to mean both crisis and opportunity, to show a positive attitude, since 危 mean crisis and 機 can roughly mean opportunity.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-07T04:10:43.380Z
I don't agree. Please see K. Shen's accepted answer for very descriptive and complete analysis of this question.
Lars Andren
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-04T07:38:16.093Z
2015-09-04T07:38:16.093Z
re4388
<p>I think maybe this was misunderstood to be Chinese, when it's the <strong>Japanese</strong> word for crisis ("kiki"), which is made up of two Chinese characters (called "kanji" in Japanese) for danger and opportunity. The word crisis in Japanese (危機 = kiki) has the kanji 危=”danger” and 機=”opportunity” (This kanji has also other meanings). So although the characters are Chinese, it's the Japanese use of it which contains this meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-13T02:47:55.883Z
#Uniotter -- Quote:- "So although the characters are Chinese, it's the Japanese use of it which contains this meaning"  I am sure you know that 机 is merely the simplified version of 機, meaning that the Japanese term uses the exact wording of the Chinese term. That being the case, (since "Kiki" is just the Japanese pronunciation of 危 机 / 機 ), perhaps you care to show us how and where the Japanese use of it which contains the disputed meaning of "opportunity in a crisis"?
Wayne Cheah
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2020-04-14T12:42:06.593Z
@WayneCheah `机 is merely the simplified version of 機` since we're talking about Japanese in this answer, this is not correct. 机 means *table*, and Japanese uses this character for where we would use 几 in Chinese (e.g. 茶几).
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-12T21:01:29.707Z
2020-04-12T21:01:29.707Z
Uniotter
<p>I believe this is coming from over-interpreting a popular saying in modern Chinese communities 危機就是轉機 (literarily: "A crisis is also a turning point").  People use this phrase to comfort/console someone who is in a very bad situation whether it's their fault or not. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gingerPowerGirl/photos/a.424134801504187/634258520491813/?type=3&amp;theater" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.facebook.com/gingerPowerGirl/photos/a.424134801504187/634258520491813/?type=3&amp;theater</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-16T19:14:49.427Z
2020-05-16T19:14:49.427Z
Ana
<p>What is so wrong interpreting 危机  (crisis / dangerous situation) which is made up of:-</p>

<p>危 险 = danger (definitive meaning)  </p>

<p>机 会 = opportunity (definitive meaning) </p>

<p>as "within a situation of danger, (a crisis), there are also opportunities to be had"?</p>

<p>Just as in English, the phrase "bitter-sweet" has to be wrong because you cannot have anything both bitter and sweet at the same time?</p>

<p>The phrase, bitter-sweet, has therefore to be interpreted to make any sense. Just drink a cup of sweetened coffee and you know what I mean.</p>

<p>I therefore see no objection to "interpreting" 危 机, which by itself means crisis / situation of danger, as contextually having within it elements of both danger and opportunities. Just as in a cup of sweetened coffee there are both elements of sweetness and bitterness.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-27T10:23:10.227Z
That's the point, it is not made up of 危 险 and 机 会. It's made up of 危 and 机. Unless 危 机 has elements of 飞机 in it? And 小心 means small heart? Contextually  机 appears in lots of words where it doesn't bring the meaning of "opportunity". Kenny LJ's answer elaborates on this.
Lars Andren
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-27T08:27:35.927Z
2019-11-27T08:27:35.927Z
Wayne Cheah
<p>I am not at all literate in the Chinese written language (as I understand that as spoken languages, Cantonese and Mandarin are further apart than they are textually). I only hope to add that language is always morphing and growing in meaning, and this is a universal phenomenon. That is, to claim that any word within any language “means this or that”, is to misunderstand language entirely. Few words are singularly defined, and still fewer retain their original meaning over the period of multiple generations. Languages are fluid in application and context, therefore a words “meaning” can merely be subjective to its placement within syntax, and the time within which it is used (and by whom it is being used), to name only a few variables concerning words and their definitions. I only hope to add to the dialogue, and am not claiming expertise in any way. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-17T10:25:57.957Z
That's a good point. If everyone starts using it like that, and saying that "this means that", then that is what it means. However, the question is whether that is a meaning that people have come up with "along the way", or if the actual etymology shows that is how the word has been constructed in far past.
Lars Andren
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-09T23:08:40.233Z
2019-07-09T23:08:40.233Z
Daniel Ait Soria
<p>危：危險，危急 (danger)</p>

<p>機：先兆，徵兆 (omen)</p>

<blockquote>
  <ul>
  <li>唐 司空圖《連珠》：“蓋聞變可揣<strong>機</strong>，明難辨勢。金石之懸已扣，孰謂識微；風雲之候未形，罕知能制。” </li>
  <li>清 李漁《閑情偶寄‧頤養‧卻病》：“病未至而防之者，病雖未作，而有可病之<strong>機</strong>與必病之勢，先以藥物投之，使其欲發不得，猶敵欲攻我，而我兵先之預發制人者也。”</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>危機：</p>

<ol>
<li><p>潛伏的禍害或危險 (hidden danger) ：危機四伏</p></li>
<li><p>嚴重困難的關頭 (crisis)：經濟危機</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-30T04:41:44.550Z
2019-11-30T05:16:58.027Z
2019-11-30T05:16:58.027Z
shan
<p>Victor Mair has an essay answering your question directly:</p>
<p><a href="http://pinyin.info/chinese/crisis.html" rel="noreferrer">Danger + opportunity ≠ crisis, how a misunderstanding about Chinese characters has led many astray</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>[...] Like most Mandarin words, that for “crisis” (wēijī) consists of two syllables that are written with two separate characters, wēi (危) and jī (機/机).</p>
<p>[...] While it is true that wēijī does indeed mean “crisis” and that the wēi syllable of wēijī does convey the notion of “danger,” the jī syllable of wēijī most definitely does not signify “opportunity.”</p>
<p>The jī of wēijī, in fact, means something like “incipient moment; crucial point (when something begins or changes).” Thus, a wēijī is indeed a genuine crisis, a dangerous moment, a time when things start to go awry. A wēijī indicates a perilous situation when one should be especially wary.</p>
<p>[...] jī added to huì (“occasion”) creates the Mandarin word for “opportunity” (jīhuì), but by itself jī does not mean “opportunity.”</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-19T13:24:52.043Z
It is not pleasant to think of pain as part of growth, but it is frequently true. Whether any given individual will interpret crisis as an opportunity has more to do with optimism than empathy.
Waylon Flinn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-03T05:31:19.777Z
Great answer, great essay.

危机 as a word definitely does not mean opportunity at all.

However, there is an expression/saying 危机与机会并存/机遇与挑战并存, which means "opportunity accompanies crisis/challenge". But you can see here "opportunity" is an explicit part of the phrase.

This phrase often used to describe a time of change. Authorities used to use it to motivate people by bending adversity into opportunity. Basically a half glass of water thing.
user1228520
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-16T13:51:48.207Z
lo, behold, the CAT in KATRINA...
flow
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-12T20:19:23.227Z
Big ups to @user1228520 for noting that Chinese is a fertile language for word associations.  Mair is quite right about the meaning of  危机 per se.  But  机 is a part of  危机 whereas "cat" is not a part of "catastrophe" (a latinized form of the Greek prefix "kata" is!).  Character writing naturally adds a dimension to word associations that alphabetic languages do not have.
Colin McLarty
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-23T23:53:42.773Z
Mair's article contains a very interesting remark on how the chinese characters, exported to neighbouring countries like Japan as kanji, can evolve there and come back to fertilise the chinese language and writing with new, complementary meanings. This is not about the philosophical question, if a crisis must contain an occasion or not; this is about the linguistic (and graphical) roots of the word 危機. (The other one, 危机, did not even exist a century ago.)
Dirk
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-17T13:49:27.253Z
No. 

But it's sad how far this rumor has gone. I've even heard Chinese hosts on CCTV-9 say this garbage.

Think of how callous one would have to be to say this: 

Oooh look, Hurricane Katrina wrecked New Orleans... what an opportunity for gain!
stevendaniels
CC BY-SA 4.0
2012-01-16T13:54:46.923Z
2020-01-29T03:29:47.617Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
K. Shen
<p>A lot of people, mostly those who haven't studied Chinese, like to claim something along the lines of </p>

<p><strong>"In Chinese, the word for crisis 危机, also bears the meaning of opportunity."</strong></p>

<p>This is usually said right before or after making a remark that a crisis can also be a possibility. </p>

<p>My thought on this is that it was originally written as 危险机会 (or 危险的机会), meaning a "chance of danger", or "possibility of danger". And then, as in many other cases, character 2 and 4 dropped, to make the word 危机. In this way, it has become a misunderstanding that the word means both "danger" and "opportunity", as both of these words are represented.</p>

<p>My questions are</p>

<ul>
<li>Am I totally wrong?</li>
<li>Do Chinese speakers really think of 危机 as both "crisis" and "opportunity"?</li>
<li>Do Chinese speakers use 危机 to describe some kinds of crises (possibly fortunate ones, less severe etc), and use another word for other kinds?</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-16T09:47:11.570Z
How many kinds of crisis are there? And what are they?
fefe
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2012-01-16T12:19:07.723Z
Catastrophies, disasters, missed deadlines, lack of competent labor, lack of funds, missed flights, lack of credit, food shortage etc
Lars Andren
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2012-01-16T12:32:29.060Z
Lars, is your question related to the New Chinese Year Event?
Alenanno
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2012-01-17T11:27:36.637Z
@Alenanno no, not at all.
Lars Andren
<meaning><mandarin><characters><etymology><phrase>
Does 危机 really mean both crisis and opportunity?
# Does 危机 really mean both crisis and opportunity?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-16)

A lot of people, mostly those who haven't studied Chinese, like to claim something along the lines of

**"In Chinese, the word for crisis 危机, also bears the meaning of opportunity."**

This is usually said right before or after making a remark that a crisis can also be a possibility.

My thought on this is that it was originally written as 危险机会 (or 危险的机会), meaning a "chance of danger", or "possibility of danger". And then, as in many other cases, character 2 and 4 dropped, to make the word 危机. In this way, it has become a misunderstanding that the word means both "danger" and "opportunity", as both of these words are represented.

My questions are

* Am I totally wrong?
* Do Chinese speakers really think of 危机 as both "crisis" and "opportunity"?
* Do Chinese speakers use 危机 to describe some kinds of crises (possibly fortunate ones, less severe etc), and use another word for other kinds?

**Tags:** meaning, mandarin, characters, etymology, phrase

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: How many kinds of crisis are there? And what are they?  
> **username_0**: Catastrophies, disasters, missed deadlines, lack of competent labor, lack of funds, missed flights, lack of credit, food shortage etc  
> **username_2**: username_0, is your question related to the New Chinese Year Event?  
> **username_0**: @username_2 no, not at all.  

---

## 13 answers

### Answer by username_15 on 2012-01-16. Score: 17 | Accepted answer

Victor Mair has an essay answering your question directly:

[Danger + opportunity ≠ crisis, how a misunderstanding about Chinese characters has led many astray](http://pinyin.info/chinese/crisis.html).

> [...] Like most Mandarin words, that for “crisis” (wēijī) consists of two syllables that are written with two separate characters, wēi (危) and jī (機/机).
>
> [...] While it is true that wēijī does indeed mean “crisis” and that the wēi syllable of wēijī does convey the notion of “danger,” the jī syllable of wēijī most definitely does not signify “opportunity.”
>
> The jī of wēijī, in fact, means something like “incipient moment; crucial point (when something begins or changes).” Thus, a wēijī is indeed a genuine crisis, a dangerous moment, a time when things start to go awry. A wēijī indicates a perilous situation when one should be especially wary.
>
> [...] jī added to huì (“occasion”) creates the Mandarin word for “opportunity” (jīhuì), but by itself jī does not mean “opportunity.”

> **Comments:**
> **username_20**: No.   But it's sad how far this rumor has gone. I've even heard Chinese hosts on CCTV-9 say this garbage.  Think of how callous one would have to be to say this:   Oooh look, Hurricane Katrina wrecked New Orleans... what an opportunity for gain!  
> **username_18**: lo, behold, the CAT in KATRINA...  
> **username_16**: It is not pleasant to think of pain as part of growth, but it is frequently true. Whether any given individual will interpret crisis as an opportunity has more to do with optimism than empathy.  
> **username_17**: Great answer, great essay.  危机 as a word definitely does not mean opportunity at all.  However, there is an expression/saying 危机与机会并存/机遇与挑战并存, which means "opportunity accompanies crisis/challenge". But you can see here "opportunity" is an explicit part of the phrase.  This phrase often used to describe a time of change. Authorities used to use it to motivate people by bending adversity into opportunity. Basically a half glass of water thing.  
> **username_19**: Big ups to @username_17 for noting that Chinese is a fertile language for word associations.  Mair is quite right about the meaning of  危机 per se.  But  机 is a part of  危机 whereas "cat" is not a part of "catastrophe" (a latinized form of the Greek prefix "kata" is!).  Character writing naturally adds a dimension to word associations that alphabetic languages do not have.  
> **username_6**: Mair's article contains a very interesting remark on how the chinese characters, exported to neighbouring countries like Japan as kanji, can evolve there and come back to fertilise the chinese language and writing with new, complementary meanings. This is not about the philosophical question, if a crisis must contain an occasion or not; this is about the linguistic (and graphical) roots of the word 危機. (The other one, 危机, did not even exist a century ago.)  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-08-03. Score: 6

no "危机" doesn't mean danger + oppuntunity. It means dangerous times or crisis. It only means danger (危) + opportuniy (机) when we artifically separate the two words and attempt to interpret each word on its own.

An easy example off the top my head is "小心". It means "be careful". It is incorrect to separate the two words and re-interpret their meanings as "小" (small, tiny), "心" (heart). Being careful is not the same as having a small heart.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you, this is what the accepted answer is stating as well (although in a briefer way).  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-08-03. Score: 5

"機" in "危機" means the tendency of occurrence. (說文解字: 機之用主於發。故凡主發者皆謂之機。) It carries a neutral meaning.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-01-16. Score: 4

I've never heard "危险机会", and I don't think it is valid in Chinese.

"危机" does not carry the meaning of "opportunity".

However, there are always opportunities in a crisis situation. Sometimes the ability of a person can be only shown in crisis situations. So a crisis is sometimes considered as an opportunity to appeal one's ability in achieve some task. And in overcoming a crisis, people can get various award or promotion. This should be how "危机" is linked to opportunity.

EDIT:

With respect the different crises given by the OP in the comment, "危机" can be used for all of them. However, a disaster can be a crisis to a country, and a missing deadline is only a crisis for a single person.

"危机" is used to refer to severe situations. There would not be "fortunate" ones.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-11-28. Score: 3

As others have clearly demonstrated, [危机](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%8D%B1%E6%9C%BA) does not simply break apart into

1. [危](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%8D%B1) short for [危险](http://youdao.com/w/%E5%8D%B1%E9%99%A9) (danger) and
2. [机](http://youdao.com/w/%E6%9C%BA) short for [机会](http://youdao.com/w/%E6%9C%BA%E4%BC%9A) or [机遇](http://youdao.com/w/%E6%9C%BA%E9%81%87) (opportunity).

In short, that's not how Chinese works. However, it is sometimes used idiomatically. Examples:

1. 危机，既是危险也是机遇 ([source](http://www.sohu.com/a/145186419_784258))
2. 危机等于危险加机遇「危机中的机遇」 ([source](http://www.rhlawyer.com/falvwenben/2018/1225/11675.html))
3. 危机，有危险也有机遇 ([source](http://www.360doc.com/content/08/1112/23/21414_1914060.shtml))
4. 危机传播：危机与机遇并存 ([source](https://tieba.baidu.com/p/6041086973?red_tag=2825798515))
5. 危机=危险+机遇 ([source](https://club.1688.com/threadview/49025110.html))

Searing Baidu for [`危机 危险 机遇`](https://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%E5%8D%B1%E6%9C%BA%20%E5%8D%B1%E9%99%A9%20%E6%9C%BA%E9%81%87) gives many pages of examples. It may have evolved from improper usage, but that's how languages develop.

In English, we might say ***there's no I in team***. Obviously, there's a whole lot of words that don't contain I (and my sister likes to point out how there's an "m" and an "e"); it's illogical to think it has the same implications for every non-I-containing word. You're meant to forego the literal meaning.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: A very interesting and well-written answer, I like this a lot. Excellent input! So idiomatically in a longer phrase that explains it like 危机与机会并存/机遇与挑战并存, yes the meaning is there, becuase " 危机" and "机会" are both there. By itself "危机" does not bear that meaning.  
> **username_6**: The *I in team* is a nice analogy. I also think that the key to the explanation is in the idomatic use of Chinese and its very specific fusion of characters with totally different meanings over several millenia, which is also visible in single sinograms. Nobody would interprete good 好 as a woman with child today or deduce that a man 男has to be strong enough to till a field. But those relationships, even thousand of years ago, are undeniable.  

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### Answer by username_7 on 2019-11-28. Score: 3

QUOTE:- "Contextually 机 appears in lots of words where it doesn't bring the meaning of "opportunity"

That's not entirely true, for in other areas it does. We therefore have 机 不 可 失， (don't let slip an opportunity)

Please don't get me wrong. I am not disputing that 机 does have many other meanings, context which have nothing to do with "opportunity"

Such as machine, engine, 生 机，(lease of life), etc, as Kenny Li correctly pointed out. I am saying that he has not explored the wider range of uses for 机

We therefore also have areas where 机, (used singularly), means opportunity, such 机 遇，(favorable opportunity)，and 趁 机, (take or seize the opportunity)

The point is that there is nothing contextually, linguistically wrong or improper to read or interpret the 机 in 危 机 as "opportunity"

And therefore when people, motivational speakers, politicians say that in a crisis, a 危 机 situation of danger, there are also opportunities to be seized or had by, if you like, unscrupulous opportunists, (as in a war, there are opportunities for gun runners), I have no particular linguistic objections.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Insightful and well written! I think your examples really put another twist to this topic.  

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### Answer by username_8 on 2013-11-06. Score: 2

"危机" is not short for "危险机会". never heard that.

it means "danger",but more serious than general "danger"!

For Example,if the company has some critical trouble,we can say that the company has "危机".
By contrast,it also has chance to put the company back on its feet.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: False. Please see K. username_15's accepted answer for very descriptive and complete analysis of this question.  
> **username_8**: oh sorry,I've always used  危機 in my way..... i'll check it.  thx!  

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### Answer by username_9 on 2015-09-04. Score: 1

Does 危機 really mean both crisis and opportunity?

Yes or No.

No, when Chinese saying this word with no second thought, we don't imply the meaning of opportunity.

Yes, you still can "interpret" this word separately to mean both crisis and opportunity, to show a positive attitude, since 危 mean crisis and 機 can roughly mean opportunity.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I don't agree. Please see K. username_15's accepted answer for very descriptive and complete analysis of this question.  

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### Answer by username_10 on 2020-04-12. Score: 0

I think maybe this was misunderstood to be Chinese, when it's the **Japanese** word for crisis ("kiki"), which is made up of two Chinese characters (called "kanji" in Japanese) for danger and opportunity. The word crisis in Japanese (危機 = kiki) has the kanji 危=”danger” and 機=”opportunity” (This kanji has also other meanings). So although the characters are Chinese, it's the Japanese use of it which contains this meaning.

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: #username_10 -- Quote:- "So although the characters are Chinese, it's the Japanese use of it which contains this meaning"  I am sure you know that 机 is merely the simplified version of 機, meaning that the Japanese term uses the exact wording of the Chinese term. That being the case, (since "Kiki" is just the Japanese pronunciation of 危 机 / 機 ), perhaps you care to show us how and where the Japanese use of it which contains the disputed meaning of "opportunity in a crisis"?  
> **username_11**: @username_7 `机 is merely the simplified version of 機` since we're talking about Japanese in this answer, this is not correct. 机 means *table*, and Japanese uses this character for where we would use 几 in Chinese (e.g. 茶几).  

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### Answer by username_12 on 2020-05-16. Score: 0

I believe this is coming from over-interpreting a popular saying in modern Chinese communities 危機就是轉機 (literarily: "A crisis is also a turning point"). People use this phrase to comfort/console someone who is in a very bad situation whether it's their fault or not. <https://www.facebook.com/gingerPowerGirl/photos/a.424134801504187/634258520491813/?type=3&theater>


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### Answer by username_7 on 2019-11-27. Score: 0

What is so wrong interpreting 危机 (crisis / dangerous situation) which is made up of:-

危 险 = danger (definitive meaning)

机 会 = opportunity (definitive meaning)

as "within a situation of danger, (a crisis), there are also opportunities to be had"?

Just as in English, the phrase "bitter-sweet" has to be wrong because you cannot have anything both bitter and sweet at the same time?

The phrase, bitter-sweet, has therefore to be interpreted to make any sense. Just drink a cup of sweetened coffee and you know what I mean.

I therefore see no objection to "interpreting" 危 机, which by itself means crisis / situation of danger, as contextually having within it elements of both danger and opportunities. Just as in a cup of sweetened coffee there are both elements of sweetness and bitterness.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That's the point, it is not made up of 危 险 and 机 会. It's made up of 危 and 机. Unless 危 机 has elements of 飞机 in it? And 小心 means small heart? Contextually  机 appears in lots of words where it doesn't bring the meaning of "opportunity". Kenny LJ's answer elaborates on this.  

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### Answer by username_13 on 2019-07-09. Score: 0

I am not at all literate in the Chinese written language (as I understand that as spoken languages, Cantonese and Mandarin are further apart than they are textually). I only hope to add that language is always morphing and growing in meaning, and this is a universal phenomenon. That is, to claim that any word within any language “means this or that”, is to misunderstand language entirely. Few words are singularly defined, and still fewer retain their original meaning over the period of multiple generations. Languages are fluid in application and context, therefore a words “meaning” can merely be subjective to its placement within syntax, and the time within which it is used (and by whom it is being used), to name only a few variables concerning words and their definitions. I only hope to add to the dialogue, and am not claiming expertise in any way.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That's a good point. If everyone starts using it like that, and saying that "this means that", then that is what it means. However, the question is whether that is a meaning that people have come up with "along the way", or if the actual etymology shows that is how the word has been constructed in far past.  

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### Answer by username_14 on 2019-11-30. Score: 0

危：危險，危急 (danger)

機：先兆，徵兆 (omen)

> * 唐 司空圖《連珠》：“蓋聞變可揣**機**，明難辨勢。金石之懸已扣，孰謂識微；風雲之候未形，罕知能制。”
> * 清 李漁《閑情偶寄‧頤養‧卻病》：“病未至而防之者，病雖未作，而有可病之**機**與必病之勢，先以藥物投之，使其欲發不得，猶敵欲攻我，而我兵先之預發制人者也。”

危機：

1. 潛伏的禍害或危險 (hidden danger) ：危機四伏
2. 嚴重困難的關頭 (crisis)：經濟危機


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