峰

A phono-semantic compound:

山 (mountain) – semantic, indicating connection with mountains.

夆 (to pull, to extend forward; phonetic element) – provides the sound.

Thus originally denoting the sharp projecting part of a mountain ridge.

Semantic range:

- mountain peak, summit, ridge;

- the highest point or tip of a structure;

- figurative: climax, pinnacle, peak of achievement.

山峰 (산봉) – mountain peak

高峰 (고봉) – lofty peak; also figuratively a great figure or high achievement

群峰 (군봉) – a group of peaks

巔峰 (전봉) – summit, pinnacle, culmination

峰會 / 정상회담 (봉회) – summit meeting (political)

Although not the dictionary standard in Korea, 峯 is dominant in toponyms:

道峯區 (Dobong-gu, Seoul)

雪嶽峯 (older or variant spellings)

This reflects a conservative naming tradition, where older or visually imposing forms are favored.

In modern Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, 峰 frequently appears in political and cultural contexts to refer metaphorically to summit meetings (summit diplomacy) or the pinnacle of success.

In geography, poetry, and metaphor, it marks:

- the limit of ascent

- the moment of clarity

- the visible result of accumulated layers

Thus, 峯 is not merely a mountain peak, but a symbol of arrival after ascent.

Semantically related characters:

岳 — high mountain; sacred peak

嶺 — mountain ridge

巔 — summit; topmost point

頂 — top; crown

Contrastive:

谷 — valley

壑 — ravine

坡 — slope

峯 (U+5CEF) is an older alternative form.

In Chinese simplified characters, 峰 is the standard form (used as the simplified of 峯).

In classical Chinese, 峯 / 峰 are often interchangeable in manuscripts.