峻
high, steep
Readings
On'yomi
- シュン
Kun'yomi
- けわ.しい
- たか.い
Nanori
- たか
- たかし
- ちか
- とし
- おか
Meaning
峻 centers on extreme steepness and height, describing mountains, cliffs, or anything sharply elevated. The idea extends naturally to severity or strictness, as in a steep, unyielding attitude.
Most common words using 峻
- 急峻きゅうしゅん
steep; sharp
- 峻別しゅんべつ
rigorous distinction
- 峻下剤しゅんげざい
drastic aperient
- 峻厳しゅんげん
strict; stern; rigorous; severe
- 峻峭しゅんしょう
tall and steep
- 峻峰しゅんぽう
steep peak; steep ridge; high rugged mountain
- 峻嶺しゅんれい
steep peak; steep ridge; high rugged mountain
- 峻拒しゅんきょ
refusing flatly; rejecting sternly
- 峻烈しゅんれつ
severe; harsh; rigorous; trenchant; scathing; sharp; incisive; cutting
- 峻酷しゅんこく
severe (personality); unaffected by love
- 峻険しゅんけん
steep; precipitous
- 険峻けんしゅん
steep; precipitous
Study
Etymology
峻 combines 山 (mountain) with 夋, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of something towering or severe. The exact historical development of 夋 is uncertain, but the mountain radical clearly anchors the meaning to steep terrain.
Meaning mnemonic
A mountain 山 that rises sharply and steeply, like a wall of rock. The right side 夋 looks like a person climbing with difficulty, emphasizing the severe incline.
Reading mnemonic
For シュン, imagine a steep mountain trail that makes you shun the climb: shun -> シュン, and the mountain 山 stands steep and forbidding.