胆识 (dǎn shí) is a compound noun meaning 'courage and insight' — the ability to act decisively in the face of risk, combined with sound judgment and foresight. The first character, 胆 (dǎn), literally means 'gallbladder' but metaphorically represents courage, boldness, or nerve — as in the idiom 'a gallbladder full of courage'. The second character, 识 (shí), means 'knowledge', 'insight', or 'discernment', emphasizing mental clarity and understanding rather than mere information.

This word is commonly used to describe admired qualities in leaders, entrepreneurs, reformers, or anyone who makes difficult, forward-looking decisions under pressure. It carries a strong positive connotation and appears frequently in formal writing, speeches, historical narratives, and evaluations of character. Unlike standalone words like 勇气 (yǒngqì, 'courage') or 智慧 (zhìhuì, 'wisdom'), 胆识 specifically highlights the inseparable pairing of moral courage and intellectual acuity — one without the other is incomplete.