峨眉山
Chinese
| Mount Emei; Emei | mountain; hill | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (峨眉山) | 峨眉 | 山 | |
| simp. #(峨眉山) | 峨眉 | 山 | |
| alternative forms | 峨嵋山 | ||
峨眉山
note how the feelers of this moth resemble the peaks of Mount Emei (pictured above)
Etymology
峨眉 derives from the word 蛾眉 (éméi, “the feathery feelers of a moth”), so named because the peaks of Mount Emei do in fact resemble the feelers of a moth (see pictures). The “insect” radical (虫) on the left side of the first character 蛾 (é) was later replaced with the “mountain” radical (山 (shān)). Thus, 蛾 (é) eventually became 峨 (é), so as to denote the mountain. The “mountain” radical can be optionally added to the second character 眉 (méi). Both 峨嵋 (Éméi) and 峨眉 have been used through the centuries. 山 (shān) simply means “mountain”.
Pronunciation
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