峡

峽
xiá
夹 + 山

Definitions

xiá (noun) gorge; canyon; ravine

Etymology

The space between 夹 two mountains 山; 夹 also provides the pronunciation

About

峡 is a phono-semantic compound character: its left side is the semantic radical 山 (shān) "mountain", marking it as a topographical term, while the right side is the phonetic component 夹 (jiā, written 夾 in the traditional form 峽), which means "to press from both sides". This component provides the pronunciation and also suggests a space tightly squeezed between two mountains, giving the character its meaning of a narrow gorge or mountain pass.

Example Sentences Hide

这条峡谷很美。

Zhè tiáo xiágǔ hěn měi.

This canyon is very beautiful.

我们穿过了狭窄的峡谷。

Wǒmen chuānguòle xiázhǎi de xiágǔ.

We passed through the narrow canyon.

海峡两岸的风景都很漂亮。

Hǎixiá liǎng'àn de fēngjǐng dōu hěn piàoliang.

The scenery on both sides of the strait is very beautiful.

昨天我们参观了著名的三峡大坝。

Zuótiān wǒmen cānguānle zhùmíng de Sānxiá dàbà.

Yesterday we visited the famous Three Gorges Dam.

游轮缓缓驶过美丽的峡湾。

Yóulún huǎnhuǎn shǐguò měilì de xiáwān.

The cruise ship slowly sailed through the beautiful fjord.

这个海峡比那个海峡更宽阔。

Zhège hǎixiá bǐ nàgè hǎixiá gèng kuānkuò.

This strait is wider than that strait.

虽然峡谷很深，但探险队还是成功穿越了。

Suīrán xiágǔ hěn shēn, dàn tànxiǎnduì háishì chénggōng chuānyuèle.

Although the canyon is deep, the expedition team successfully crossed it.

在险峻的山峡中，修建铁路需要极高的工程技术。

Zài xiǎnjùn de shānxiá zhōng, xiūjiàn tiělù xūyào jí gāo de gōngchéng jìshù.

Building a railway in the steep mountain gorge requires extremely high engineering skills.

Related Characters

Component: 夹

侠 狭 陕 颊 挟 惬 荚 郏 浃 蛱 箧 硖 铗 瘗

Component: 山

山 密 岁 岛 岸 仙 岩 峰 崇 幽 岂 岗 岳 崩

Example Words

三峡 峡谷 海峡 三门峡 峡湾 瞿塘峡 虎跳峡 西峡 三门峡市 山峡 峡江 巫峡 西峡县 西陵峡 青铜峡 龙羊峡