险些

险些 means 'nearly' or 'almost' in English, used to describe an event that almost happened but did not. It emphasizes the closeness of a situation to a negative outcome.

The character 险 (xiǎn) means 'dangerous' or 'perilous,' while 些 (xiē) is a measure word often used to indicate a small amount or degree. Together, 险些 conveys the idea of something being on the verge of happening, usually with a sense of near-miss or close call.

险几 is commonly used in everyday speech to express situations where something almost occurred but was prevented. For example, someone might say 险些摔倒 to mean 'nearly fell.' It is also used in more dramatic contexts, such as almost missing a train or narrowly avoiding an accident.