About
Structurally a phono-semantic compound, 岫 combines the mountain radical 山 on the left, anchoring its meaning to terrain and elevations, with 由 on the right as a phonetic element. Originally, it denoted a cave or hollow within a mountain or rocky cliff. In later classical literature, the meaning extended via metonymy to refer to the mountain peak or range itself, becoming a descriptive term for rugged landscapes.
Etymology Hide
