崇山峻岭 (chóng shān jùn lǐng) — towering mountains and steep ridges; majestic and rugged mountain scenery

Definition

Literary idiom for 'towering mountains and steep ridges' — a fixed four-character set (chéng yǔ) used to describe majestic, rugged mountain scenery, not used in everyday speech.

idiom
towering mountains and steep ridgesmajestic and rugged mountain scenery

Examples

  • 崇山峻岭，。
    Zài chóng shān jùn lǐng zhī jiān, yǒu yì tiáo wān yán de xiǎo lù.
    Among the towering mountains and steep ridges, there is a winding path.
  • 崇山峻岭。
    Zhè lǐ de chóng shān jùn lǐng lìng rén tàn wéi guān zhǐ.
    The towering mountains and steep ridges here are breathtaking.
  • 崇山峻岭，。
    Tā zhàn zài chóng shān jùn lǐng zhī diān, gǎn shòu zhe dà zì rán de lì liàng.
    He stood on the summit of the towering mountains and felt the power of nature.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

崇山towering mountains
崇chóngtowering山shānmountain
偏正Modifier + head
峻岭steep ridges
峻jùnsteep岭lǐngridge
偏正Modifier + head

崇山 gives towering mountains and 峻岭 steep ridges; together they describe rugged mountain scenery.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
宗
宗zōng崇
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

崇 is built from 山 (mountain) on top and 宗 below; the mountain shows the idea, while 宗 gives the sound.

Open 崇 →

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

山 shows three mountain peaks side by side.

Open 山 →

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
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
夋
夋qūn峻jùn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

峻 pairs 山, showing a mountain, with 夋, which gives its sound.

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 嶺; 岭 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
領
領lǐng嶺lǐng
Same sound today

The traditional form 嶺 combines 山 (mountain) with 領 to give the sound; the simplified 岭 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 岭 →

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