Meaning and Usage
"峠" (とうげ) primarily refers to a mountain pass or ridge, a narrow path through mountains often used in travel or hiking. It also metaphorically means a difficult or critical turning point, such as in life or a process.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "峠" in conversations about travel, especially when describing routes through mountainous areas. It is also used figuratively to describe a challenging phase or peak moment, like "人生の峠" (a turning point in life).
Collocations and Patterns
- 峠を越える: to cross a mountain pass or overcome a difficult phase.
- 峠の天気: weather at the mountain pass, often unpredictable.
- 人生の峠: a critical turning point in life.
Register and Nuance
"峠" is a neutral term used in both spoken and written Japanese. When used metaphorically, it often implies a peak difficulty or a decisive moment, suggesting that after this point, things may improve or change.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "峠" with "頂上" (ちょうじょう), which means the summit or peak of a mountain. "峠" is specifically a pass or saddle point between peaks, not the highest point itself.