嶽

A phono-semantic compound:

山 (mountain) — semantic component, clearly indicates mountain-related meaning

獄 (prison; legal case) — phonetic component, supplies the sound (악 / yuè)

The original meaning of 嶽 is a very large, imposing mountain, especially one that:

- stands out among surrounding mountains

- is steep, lofty, or awe-inspiring

- serves as a landmark or sacred peak

It does not mean just any mountain, but a major or eminent one.

In classical Chinese texts, 嶽 was often used to denote:

- famous or sacred mountains

- mountains associated with ritual, authority, or cosmic order

- especially the Five Sacred Peaks (五嶽) of China

Because of this association, 嶽 carries a strong sense of:

- grandeur

- solemnity

- symbolic importance

악산 (嶽山) — great mountain

명악 (名嶽) — famous mountain

오악 (五嶽) — the Five Sacred Peaks

嶽 is strongly associated with sacred geography in East Asia.

Mountains written with 嶽 were often viewed as:

- sites of heaven–earth connection

- places of imperial ritual

- symbols of stability and authority

Because of this, 嶽 appears frequently in:

- classical literature

- place names

- poetic descriptions of grandeur

Comparison with related characters:

山 — mountain (general, neutral)

峰 — peak or summit

嶺 — ridge or mountain pass

嶽 — great, eminent, sacred mountain, implies scale and dignity, not merely physical height