danger, steep

險 is composed of the radical 阜 (mound, hill) and 僉 (all, everyone). 阜 is a pictograph of a terraced hillside, signifying a high place, while 僉 depicts multiple people responding to a command, implying authority from above. Thus, 險 originally described steep or rugged terrain. Being in a high place makes accidents more likely, so 險 also means dangerous or unsafe.