Definitions

luán mountain ranges

Etymology phono-semantic

mountain

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character for mountain range, now commonly written as "峦", finds its origin in the traditional form "巒", a construction where the foundational component "山" explicitly denotes the mountain meaning while the upper element "䜌" historically provided phonetic value and subtly implied a sense of connection or series, appropriate for describing linked peaks. Over time, its core meaning has maintained a focus on mountainous formations, particularly pointed summits or extended chains, though in classical contexts it sometimes conveyed a more specific imagery of rugged or precipitous terrain. The variant "峦" preserves the symbolic "山" base but alters the top to "亦", a graphical adjustment that modifies the phonetic association while still retaining the character's inherent geographical reference.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

远处的山很美。

Yuǎn chù de shān luán hěn měi.

The mountain range in the distance is beautiful.

起伏如波浪。

Shān luán qǐ fú rú bō làng.

The mountain ranges rise and fall like waves.

早晨的山笼罩在雾中。

Zǎo chén de shān luán lǒng zhào zài wù zhōng.

The mountain ranges are shrouded in fog in the morning.

我们眺望着远处的山

Wǒ men tiào wàng zhe yuǎn chù de shān luán.

We gaze at the distant mountain ranges.

夕阳下的山呈现金黄色。

Xī yáng xià de shān luán chéng xiàn jīn huáng sè.

The mountain ranges under the sunset appear golden.

虽然山陡峭,但我们还是爬了上去。

Suī rán shān luán dǒu qiào, dàn wǒ men hái shì pá le shàng qù.

Although the mountain ranges are steep, we still climbed up.

面对连绵的山,他感到自己的渺小。

Miàn duì lián mián de shān luán, tā gǎn dào zì jǐ de miǎo xiǎo.

Facing the continuous mountain ranges, he felt his own insignificance.

当飞机越过重重山时,乘客们都被窗外的景色吸引住了。

Dāng fēi jī yuè guò chóng chóng shān luán shí, chéng kè men dōu bèi chuāng wài de jǐng sè xī yǐn zhù le.

When the plane flew over the layers of mountain ranges, the passengers were all attracted by the scenery outside the window.