峡 (xiá) — gorge
Definition
A bound morph meaning 'gorge' or 'canyon' — narrow valley between steep cliffs. Almost always paired with 谷 (→ 峡谷) to form a full word.
bound form
gorge
Easily confused
- 挟xiélook-aliketo hold under the arm; to embrace
- 匣xiásound-alike(bound form) small box, case
- 狭xiálook-alikenarrow
- 瑕xiásound-alike(bound form) flaw, blemish, defect
- 侠xiálook-alikechivalrous hero; knight-errant (in Chinese martial arts and folklore)
- 霞xiásound-alike(bound form) rosy cloud; morning/evening glow
Examples
- 峡。Cháng jiāng sān xiá de fēng jǐng fēi cháng zhuàng guān.The scenery of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River is very spectacular.
- ，。Zhè ge xiá gǔ hěn shēn, liǎng biān de shān hěn gāo.This gorge is very deep, and the mountains on both sides are very tall.
- 。Zhè ge xiá gǔ hěn shēn.This gorge is very deep.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 峽; 峡 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
夾
夾jiā峽
Same sound today
The traditional form 峽 combines 山, a mountain, with 夾, used for its sound; this note describes 峽, not 峡.
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