About
The character 境, meaning boundary, realm, or circumstance, originates from the traditional form which combines the semantic component 土 (earth, land) with the phonetic and semantic component 竟, which itself means "to end" or "to finish". This structure conceptually frames a border as the point where land ends or where one territory concludes, thus solidifying its core meaning of a physical boundary or frontier. Over time, its application broadened significantly from denoting geographical borders to encompassing abstract domains, such as the state or condition of something, as seen in terms for one's environment or situation. This extended further into philosophical and aesthetic spheres, referring to a cultivated state of mind or a transcendent realm in artistic and spiritual contexts, a conceptual shift notably developed in Chinese Buddhist texts and later in literary criticism. While its fundamental structure has remained consistent, the semantic journey of 境 moved from the concrete edges of land to the abstract frontiers of experience and perception.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢这个环境。
学校的环境很优美。
他陷入了困难的境地。
旅行可以开阔眼界和心境。
在逆境中成长很重要。
这部电影带我进入了奇幻的梦境。
两国之间的边境问题很复杂。
他的思想达到了更高的境界。