巅峰 (diān fēng) — peak, summit, apex (literal or figurative) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

巅峰 (diānfēng) is the literary, grand 'peak / pinnacle' — emphasizes the absolute high point of achievement or a civilization, more elevated than 高峰 (which also covers rush hour) and more abstract than 山峰 / 山顶 (a physical mountain top).

noun

peaksummitapex (literal or figurative)

Examples

巅峰。
Dēng dǐng zhū mù lǎng mǎ fēng shì xǔ duō dēng shān zhě de diān fēng mèng xiǎng.
Summiting Mount Everest is the peak dream of many climbers.
巅峰。
Tā zài sān shí suì biàn dá dào le shì yè de diān fēng.
He reached the pinnacle of his career by age thirty.
巅峰。
Nà ge shí qī de yì shù chéng jiù kān chēng diān fēng.
The artistic achievements of that period can be called the summit.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

巅 and 峰 both mean a high point, so 巅峰 names the summit of a mountain or career.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 巔; 巅 is its simplified writing.

山顛巔

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

顛

顛diān巔diān

Same sound today

The traditional form 巔 pairs 山 (mountain) with 顛 as the sound part; the simplified 巅 is a later shorthand.

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

山夆峰

Meaning part形符xíngfú

山山shānmountain

Sound part声符shēngfú

夆

夆páng峰fēng

Same sound today

峰 combines 山 (mountain) with 夆, which gives the character its sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Abstract Concepts Geography & Landforms

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