dangerous, almost

殆 is composed of the radical 歹 (wicked) and 台 (platform). 歹 represents death, while 台 is a depiction of entrusting or instructing someone else to do something on one’s behalf, indicating the starting point of a matter. Therefore, 殆 conveys the idea of the beginning of death, and is used to mean danger, perilous, or nearly/almost.