Word · Frequency #9563
precarious
危险的；不稳定的；令人不安的；岌岌可危的
dangerously lacking in security or stability; giving no ease or reassurance; perilous
- 1.
Dangerously insecure or unstable; perilous.
危险地不安全或不稳定的；危险的
- 2.
Relating to incipient caries.
与早期龋齿相关的
- 3.
affording no ease or reassurance
不令人安心的
- 4.
Depending on the intention of another.
取决于他人的意图
- 5.
fraught with danger
充满危险的
- 6.
not secure; beset with difficulties
不安全的；困难重重的
取决于他人意愿的；可随时被变更或收回的；与早期龋齿有关的；危险地不安全或不稳定的；危险的；与早期龋齿相关的；不令人安心的
In use
The old wooden bridge looked precarious after the storm.
She lived a precarious existence, moving from one temporary job to another.
The company's financial situation remains precarious despite recent investments.
a precarious truce
the precarious life of an undersea diver
precarious + noun
precarious 常修饰 situation, position, condition 等名词。
He found himself in a precarious situation.
他发现自己处于危险的境地。
be/get in a precarious + noun
Connections
Collocations
- precarious situation
- 不稳定的局势
- The country is in a precarious situation due to the ongoing civil war.由于内战持续，该国处于不稳定的局势中。
- precarious position
- 危险的境地
- He found himself in a precarious position after losing his job.他在失业后发现自己陷入了危险的境地。
- precarious existence
- 朝不保夕的生活
- Many refugees lead a precarious existence in temporary camps.许多难民在临时营地过着朝不保夕的生活。
- precarious balance
- 脆弱的平衡
- The ecosystem maintains a precarious balance between predator and prey.生态系统在捕食者和猎物之间保持着脆弱的平衡。
- precarious condition
- 危险状态
- The patient's health is in a precarious condition after the surgery.手术后病人的健康状况处于危险状态。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
联想：pre（前）+ carious（近似carry）→ 前方搬运易碎品，处境不稳定。
Context & Register
语域：formal 常见场景：employment、financial situation、physical position 该词通常用于正式或书面语境，描述状态的不稳定或危险，多用于经济状况、职业或物理位置等场景。
Grammar Note
形容词，常作定语或表语，后接介词in表示处于不稳定状态
Pronunciation & Spelling
Words like 'various', 'hilarious', 'nefarious', 'gregarious' rhyme with 'precarious' as they share the stressed vowel /eə/ and ending /riəs/. However, 'serious' and 'curious' do not rhyme because their stressed vowel is /ɪə/ and /ʊə/ respectively, despite the similar spelling.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.