While both "risk" and "danger" relate to potential harm, there's a subtle but important difference. "Danger" refers to a real and immediate threat, something that could cause harm right now. "Risk" on the other hand, refers to the possibility of harm, a chance of something bad happening in the future. Think of danger as an active threat, and risk as a potential one.
Here are some examples to illustrate the difference:
- Danger: "There is danger in crossing the road without looking." (There's an immediate threat of being hit by a car.) Translation: There's an immediate threat of getting hit by a car if you cross the road without paying attention.
- Danger: "The broken glass is a danger to anyone who walks near it." (There's an immediate threat of being cut.) Translation: The broken glass poses an immediate threat of cutting anyone who comes close to it.
- Risk: "Smoking increases your risk of lung cancer." (Smoking doesn't guarantee lung cancer, but it increases the probability.) Translation: Smoking makes it more likely you'll get lung cancer.
- Risk: "There's a risk of losing money if you invest in the stock market." (Investing might result in a loss, but it might not.) Translation: There's a possibility of losing money if you invest in the stock market.
Notice that "danger" often involves a clear and present threat, while "risk" suggests a calculated chance of something negative happening. You can assess a risk, but you react to a danger. This is a very common English vocabulary confusion, so understanding this will help you to improve your English skills.
Happy learning!