峠(とうげ)

とうげ
noun
mountain pass, peak, crisis
1. mountain pass
The highest point of a road crossing mountains.
峠(とうげ)を越(こ)える。
To cross a mountain pass.
峠(とうげ)の道(みち)は急(きゅう)だった。
The mountain pass road was steep.
峠(とうげ)に茶屋(ちゃや)があった。
There was a teahouse at the mountain pass.
2. peak, crisis point
The most critical or intense point of something.
病気(びょうき)の峠(とうげ)を越(こ)えた。
The illness passed its crisis point.
仕事(しごと)の峠(とうげ)は過(す)ぎたので少(すこ)し楽(らく)になった。
The busiest period at work has passed, so things have gotten a bit easier.
台風(たいふう)の峠(とうげ)は越(こ)えたようだ。
It seems the worst of the typhoon has passed.

LITERAL MEANING:

  • The highest point when crossing a mountain
  • 山道(やまみち)の峠(とうげ) (mountain pass)

FIGURATIVE MEANING:

  • The most critical or turning point
  • 病気(びょうき)の峠(とうげ) (crisis point of illness)
  • 仕事(しごと)の峠(とうげ) (peak of work)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 峠(とうげ)を越(こ)える: to pass the peak/get over the worst
  • 峠(とうげ)を越(こ)す: same meaning, variant form
  • 峠(とうげ)道(みち): mountain pass road

KANJI NOTE:
峠(とうげ) is a Japanese-made kanji (国字(こくじ)): 山(やま) + 上(うえ) + 下(した).

general
Added 2026.1.9 21:26 · Revised 2026.2.22 10:05
02000/02227_touge