喜马拉雅 (Xǐ mǎ lā yǎ) — the Himalayas (mountain range)

Definition

Name of the Himalayan mountain range, on the border of China, Nepal, and India. Refers to the whole range; the peaks are called 喜马拉雅山脉.

noun

the Himalayas (mountain range)

Easily confused

。
Xǐ mǎ lā yǎ Shān mài shì shì jiè shàng zuì gāo de shān mài.
The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world.
喜马拉雅。
Xǔ duō dēng shān zhě mèng xiǎng pān dēng Xǐ mǎ lā yǎ.
Many climbers dream of climbing the Himalayas.
喜马拉雅。
Xǐ mǎ lā yǎ Wèi yú zhōng guó hé ní bó ěr zhī jiān.
The Himalayas are located between China and Nepal.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

壴口喜

喜 combines 壴, a drum, with 口, a mouth.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 馬; 马 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 馬 shows a horse with its head facing left, a flowing mane, and two legs standing vertically.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

立

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拉 pairs 手 (hand) with 立, a component that supplies the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

隹牙雅

Meaning part形符xíngfú

隹隹zhuīa short-tailed bird

Sound part声符shēngfú

牙

Same sound today

雅 pairs 隹, a short-tailed bird, with 牙 as its sound part; the bird was a rook/crow, and the sense was extended to refined.