险峻 (xiǎn jùn) — precipitous (of steep terrain); strategically dangerous (of a location)

Definition

adjective
precipitous (of steep terrain)strategically dangerous (of a location)

Examples

  • 险峻，。
    Zhè zuò shān fēi cháng xiǎn jùn, hěn nán pān dēng.
    This mountain is very precipitous and hard to climb.
  • 险峻，。
    Zhè yí dài dì shì xiǎn jùn, zì gǔ yǐ lái jiù shì bīng jiā bì zhēng zhī dì.
    The terrain here is strategically dangerous; it has been a place contested by military strategists since ancient times.
  • ，险峻，。
    Xuán yá qiào bì, xiǎn jùn wàn fēn, ràng rén wàng ér shēng wèi.
    The cliffs are sheer and precipitous, making people daunted at the sight.

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.

险xiǎndangerous
峻jùnsteep

The characters 险, meaning dangerous, and 峻, meaning steep, combine to describe precipitous terrain.

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 險; 险 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān險
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 險 pairs 阝, written in full as 阜, with 僉, which gives the sound; the simplified 险 is a shorthand.

Open 险 →

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.

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