海峡 (hǎi xiá) — strait | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

海峡 is specifically a narrow water passage between two landmasses, used for famous shipping routes (e.g., the Taiwan Strait). Unlike 渠道, 途径, or 通道 — which are figurative 'channels' for communication or means — 海峡 is a literal geographic term.

noun

strait

Measure word · 条

Examples

海峡。
Tái wān hǎi xiá lián jiē dōng hǎi hé nán hǎi.
The Taiwan Strait connects the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
海峡。
Xǔ duō huò lún jīng guò mǎ liù jiǎ liù hǎi xiá.
Many cargo ships pass through the Malacca Strait.
海峡。
Zhè tiáo hǎi xiá shì zhòng yào de háng dào.
This strait is an important shipping route.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

海峡 joins 海 and 峡 to describe a narrow sea passage.

Characters in this word

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

氵每海

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

每

每měi海hǎi

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

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.

Most 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.

山夾峽

Meaning part形符xíngfú

山山shānmountain

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Geography & Landforms

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