mountain passes and peaks; distant and perilous journey; frontier
Meanings
3 senses · 8 examplesnoun
mountain passes and peaks; strategic passes and mountains
literaryLiteral meaning, referring to actual geographical features, often implying a barrier or frontier.
The ancient Silk Road had to traverse countless mountain passes and peaks.
The Qin dynasty built the Great Wall to defend the strategic passes and mountains.
noun
a distant, difficult, and perilous journey; a long road home
literaryA classical poetic metaphor for a long and arduous journey, often evoking feelings of hardship, separation, or homesickness.
The journey is long and perilous; the date of return is hard to predict.
Traveling ten thousand li to the call of war, crossing mountain passes as if flying. (from the 'Ballad of Mulan')
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Thinking of the impending long journey, separated by distant passes, he couldn't help but feel sorrowful.
noun
the frontier; border regions; the far-flung reaches of the empire
literaryOften used in classical poetry and prose to refer to remote, desolate borderlands, typically associated with military defense, exile, or hardship.
This general has been garrisoned at the frontier for many years.
Ancient poetry often contains descriptions of the cold moon over the frontier.
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The mountain passes are hard to cross; who pities the wanderer who has lost his way? (from 'Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng')