Meaning

Primary

Brink

Alternative

Edge Of A Cliff

Word Type

noun

Explanation

What do you call the very tip of a cliff's edge? The brink. You can also simply call this the edge of a cliff. It's useful to know that 崖っ縁 means brink, though, because it's often used metaphorically to say that something is on the brink of something, whether it be catastrophe, death, or some other perilous situation.

Note that the 崖っ縁 is often written as 崖っぷち, with the last part in kana.

Reading

がけっぷち
  • Miyuki
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This word uses the kun'yomi readings of the kanji, which you've already learned. Beware of the little stuck in there, and the rendaku magic on that makes ふち become ぷち. Just imagine chasing after your little poochie (ぷち) who just ran off towards the edge of the cliff. You catch it, right when it was on the brink of sure death. Whew, can't trust poochies to not fall off cliffs when left to their own devices.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 崖っ縁に立つ

    to stand at the precipice, to stand on the brink

    崖っ縁にいる

    to be on the brink, to be at the edge of a cliff

    崖っ縁に追い込む

    to push someone to the brink

Context Sentences

崖っ縁に立つと足がすくむ。

Standing at the edge of a cliff makes me feel weak in the knees.

崖っ縁に追い詰められたことは今まで何度もあるけど、一度も諦めたことはないよ。

I've been pushed to the brink many times, but I've never given up.

コウイチは若い頃アイドルだったんだけど、有名歌手を怒らせてしまって、芸能界で崖っ縁に立たされたんだ。

Koichi was an idol when he was younger, but he upset a famous singer and found himself on the brink of losing his position in the entertainment industry.

Kanji Composition