remote place; backcountry; the sticks
Refers to a place far from urban centers, often with a nuance of inconvenience or isolation. Can be used neutrally or with a slightly negative connotation.
See also: 辺地
He works at a hospital in a remote area.
Because this village is in a remote place, transportation is inconvenient.
僻地 stresses inconvenience and isolation from civilization, whereas 奥地 stresses being deep inside a landmass or terrain.
僻地 means any remote place with no implication of poverty, while 寒村 specifically names a poor, desolate village.
Standard kanji spelling.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, often used when the kanji 僻 is considered difficult or uncommon.
Compound of 僻 (へき, 'remote, secluded') and 地 (ち, 'land, place').