While both "dangerous" and "perilous" describe something that presents a risk or threat, there's a subtle yet important difference between them. "Dangerous" generally refers to something that poses a risk of harm or injury, often in a more immediate or obvious way. Think of a dangerous dog—its aggressive behavior presents a clear and present danger. "Perilous," on the other hand, suggests a greater sense of risk and often implies a more serious or life-threatening situation, frequently involving difficulty or hardship. A perilous journey across a mountain range suggests not just potential injury from a fall, but also the difficulties of the environment, the likelihood of getting lost, and more. The risk is more significant and prolonged.

Here are some example sentences to illustrate the difference:

• Dangerous: "The old bridge is dangerous; it's likely to collapse." (Translation: The old bridge presents an immediate risk of falling.)

• Perilous: "Their perilous journey across the desert lasted weeks." (Translation: Their journey presented many and severe risks.)

• Dangerous: "That snake is dangerous; it's venomous." (Translation: That snake poses an immediate risk of poisoning.)

• Perilous: "The perilous climb up the cliff required specialized equipment." (Translation: The climb presented many risks and required special preparation.)

• Dangerous: "Playing with fire is dangerous." (Translation: Playing with fire presents a risk of burning oneself.)

• Perilous: "Navigating the perilous currents of the river demanded great skill." (Translation: Navigating the currents presented many and severe risks and demanded expertise.)

Notice how "dangerous" describes situations that are clearly risky and could cause harm, while "perilous" is reserved for situations that involve significantly higher risks, often with an element of great difficulty or hardship involved. The sense of potential calamity is stronger with "perilous." Happy learning!