Definitions

sōng Mt Song in Henan
sōng (literary) (of mountains) lofty

Etymology

A tall  mountain 

About

The character "嵩" is constructed from the elements "山" meaning mountain and "高" meaning high, forming a ideographic compound that directly signifies a lofty mountain. Its etymology is intrinsically linked to Mount Song, one of the Five Great Mountains of China, which established its primary reference as a specific sacred peak and by extension any high mountain. Over time, while retaining this concrete geographical meaning, the character's semantic range expanded to embody abstract qualities of elevation and nobility, leading to its adoption in personal names and literary contexts to convey ideals of grandeur and moral stature. This gradual shift in application illustrates how the character's core structural composition has consistently underpinned its meaning, allowing it to maintain a stable form and a conceptual association with height throughout its historical use.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

山很高大。

Sōngshān hěn gāodà.

Song Mountain is very tall and grand.

昨天我去了山。

Zuótiān wǒ qùle Sōngshān.

Yesterday I went to Song Mountain.

山的风景很优美。

Sōngshān de fēngjǐng hěn yōuměi.

The scenery of Song Mountain is very beautiful.

我们计划明年攀登山。

Wǒmen jìhuà míngnián pāndēng Sōngshān.

We plan to climb Song Mountain next year.

山位于河南省的登封市。

Sōngshān wèiyú Hénán Shěng de Dēngfēng Shì.

Song Mountain is located in Dengfeng City, Henan Province.

许多游客慕名前来参观山。

Xǔduō yóukè mùmíng qiánlái cānguān Sōngshān.

Many tourists come to visit Song Mountain for its fame.

山脚下,有一座古老的少林寺。

Zài Sōngshān jiǎo xià, yǒu yī zuò gǔlǎo de Shàolín Sì.

At the foot of Song Mountain, there is an ancient Shaolin Temple.

山以其悠久的历史和文化底蕴而闻名。

Sōngshān yǐ qí yōujiǔ de lìshǐ hé wénhuà dǐyùn ér wénmíng.

Song Mountain is famous for its long history and rich cultural heritage.