# Chinese character for crisis - UL? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2001, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-character-for-crisis-ul/90231 "2001-10-29T04:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Osakadave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f07891/32.png) [@Osakadave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osakadave)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-character-for-crisis-ul/90231/1 "2001-10-29T04:27:45Z")
Is the Chinese idiogram for “crisis” actually made up of “danger” and “opprotunity” or is this just another UL? I searched both here and at Snopes and couldn’t find it. I tried google and didn’t find anything reliable. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-character-for-crisis-ul/90231/2 "2001-10-29T04:37:25Z")
This [site](http://www.synearth.net/UCS4.pdf) has that statement and a graphic that I suppose indicates it’s truth. In google I just used “crisis danger opportunity”. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-character-for-crisis-ul/90231/3 "2001-10-29T04:40:07Z")
Just how hard did you search here? [Is the Chinese word for “crisis” a combination of “danger” and “opportunity”?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/001103.html) ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-character-for-crisis-ul/90231/4 "2001-10-29T04:41:19Z")
You people need to check the Straight Dope archives. Here’s what Cecil had to say about this: [Does a Chinese character mean crisis and opportunity?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/001103.html) ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-character-for-crisis-ul/90231/5 "2001-10-29T04:41:40Z")
[The Master speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/001103.html) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-character-for-crisis-ul/90231/6 "2001-10-29T04:41:49Z")
A google of "chinese ideogram, however, shows [something](http://www.press.umich.edu/jep/potpourri.html) different. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-character-for-crisis-ul/90231/7 "2001-10-29T04:54:11Z")
I meant: A google of “chinese ideogram cris”, however, shows [something](http://www.press.umich.edu/jep/potpourri.html) different. I didn’t search here at all. The OP mentioned google so I thought I’d try it. Usually anything on Straightdope that meets the criteria shows up anyhow, after all that’s how I first found the place. And who knows if this Cecil guy knows anything? ---
**Author:** ![Osakadave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f07891/32.png) [@Osakadave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osakadave)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-character-for-crisis-ul/90231/8 "2001-10-29T04:56:10Z")
Thank you. I searched for “Chinese character crisis” and didn’t get this. Don’t know why. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-character-for-crisis-ul/90231/9 "2001-10-29T10:01:33Z")
Cecil answered this one correctly. If I might add to the masters interpretation. Chinese tends to have a lot of characters, sounds and meanings that are similar. One way to get around this is to tack on a second word to make it clear exactly what context is being address. This despite my poor spelling is to di-sylabasize the words, especially when spoken. In this case, the “ji” does not imply “jihui” or opportunity. Although the word “ji” in other context or usuage can mean opportunity. In this case, the “ji” underscores the “wei”. Wei means danger or peril. When combined my dictionary translate it as “crisis.”