Meaning
翻越 means to physically go over or across something tall or challenging, like a mountain, wall, or barrier. It combines the sense of 'flipping over' (翻) with 'crossing' (越), emphasizing the effort and height involved in the crossing. This word is commonly used for mountain ranges, borders, or obstacles that require significant physical effort.
Usage
翻越 is most frequently used with geographical features, especially mountains (翻越高山). It carries a somewhat formal or literary tone and is more common in written Chinese or news reports than everyday conversation. The word emphasizes the difficulty or challenge of the crossing, not just casual movement.
Examples
- 01探险队成功翻越了喜马拉雅山脉。.The expedition team successfully crossed over the Himalayas.
- 02他们花了三天时间翻越这座大山。.It took them three days to cross over this big mountain.
Characters
Common collocations
- 翻越高山to cross over high mountains
- 翻越边境to cross the border
- 翻越障碍to surmount obstacles
- 翻越围墙to climb over a wall
Origin
The character 翻 originally depicted wings (羽) turning over, suggesting flipping or overturning motion. 越 combines 走 (to walk) with 戉 (an ancient axe), suggesting the idea of advancing forward or crossing boundaries. Together they create an image of flipping oneself over a barrier to cross it.