境

Formed as a phono-semantic compound:

土 (earth, soil) provides the semantic component, indicating land or territory.

竟 (at last, finally; phonetic) provides the sound element.

Originally referred to the physical boundaries of land or territory, later extended to abstract meanings such as conditions or circumstances.

Semantic range:

- boundary, border (경계, 지경);

- region, territory (영역, 장소);

- situation, circumstance, condition (경우, 상황);

- by extension, mental or spiritual state (심경, 경지).

국경 (國境) — national border

환경 (環境) — environment, surroundings

심경 (心境) — state of mind, emotional state

절경 (絶境) — magnificent scenery

경지 (境地) — state, realm, stage of achievement

In Confucian and Daoist thought, 境 (경) often transcends geography, pointing to a person’s inner state or level of cultivation (心境, 경지). To reach a higher 境地 was to progress spiritually or morally, harmonizing one’s inner world with external conditions.

In literature and art, 境 is associated with the aesthetic and spiritual "realm" that an artist or thinker inhabits and expresses.