Definitions

(noun) cliff; precipice

Etymology

A mountain  precipice  also provides the pronunciation

About

The character "崖" originated as a composite ideograph representing a mountain's steep edge, constructed from the mountain radical positioned above a component that conveyed the idea of a border or limit, etymologically linking it to concepts of boundaries. Its structure has consistently emphasized its primary meaning of a cliff or precipice, with the mountain element clearly denoting its association with elevated rocky formations. Over the centuries, the character's usage has centered on describing physical geographical features like bluffs and crags, while in classical texts it occasionally extended to metaphorical edges or margins, yet its core reference to a vertical drop has remained unchanged. The written form has maintained this compositional integrity, with its components and overall configuration persisting without significant alteration.

Etymology Hide

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)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

那个悬很高。

Nà gè xuán yá hěn gāo.

That cliff is very high.

我们站在山上。

Wǒ men zhàn zài shān yá shàng.

We are standing on the mountain cliff.

壁非常陡峭。

Yá bì fēi cháng dǒu qiào.

The cliff face is very steep.

他从顶跳了下去。

Tā cóng yá dǐng tiào le xià qù.

He jumped off the cliff top.

这座断看起来很危险。

Zhè zuò duàn yá kàn qǐ lái hěn wēi xiǎn.

This steep cliff looks very dangerous.

探险队成功地攀上了悬

Tàn xiǎn duì chéng gōng de pān shàng le xuán yá.

The expedition team successfully climbed the cliff.

在昏暗的月光下,边的树木显得格外诡异。

Zài hūn àn de yuè guāng xià, yá biān de shù mù xiǎn dé gé wài guǐ yì.

Under the dim moonlight, the trees at the cliff edge look particularly eerie.

为了防止游客跌落,政府在悬周围安装了坚固的护栏。

Wèi le fáng zhǐ yóu kè diē luò, zhèng fǔ zài xuán yá zhōu wéi ān zhuāng le jiān gù de hù lán.

To prevent tourists from falling, the government installed sturdy railings around the cliff.