峰(みね)

みね
noun
peak; summit; ridge
1. peak; summit; mountaintop
The top of a mountain or a prominent pointed section of a mountain range.
雪(ゆき)をかぶった峰(みね)が見(み)える。
You can see the snow-capped peaks.
朝日(あさひ)に照(て)らされた峰(みね)が美(うつく)しかった。
The peaks lit up by the morning sun were beautiful.
いくつもの峰(みね)を越(こ)えて、ようやく目的地(もくてきち)にたどり着(つ)いた。
After crossing many peaks, we finally reached our destination.
2. ridge; back of a blade
The blunt back edge of a sword or knife, opposite the cutting edge.
刀(かたな)の峰(みね)で打(う)つ。
To strike with the back of the sword.
峰(みね)打(う)ちなら命(いのち)は取(と)らぬ。
A strike with the back of the blade won't take a life.
包丁(ほうちょう)の峰(みね)でにんにく(にんにく)を潰(つぶ)す。
Crush the garlic with the back of the knife.

A literary and evocative word for mountain peaks, common in nature descriptions and place names. Also has a specialized meaning in swordsmanship.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 峰(みね)打(う)ち: striking with the back of a sword (a non-lethal blow)
  • 連(つら)なる峰(みね): a chain of peaks; a mountain range
  • 峰(みね)を越(こ)える: to cross a peak
  • 最高峰(さいこうほう): the highest peak; the pinnacle (also figurative)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 頂上(ちょうじょう): summit, top — specifically the very top of a mountain; more commonly used for the single highest point
  • 山頂(さんちょう): mountaintop — similar to 頂上(ちょうじょう); emphasizes being at the top
  • 尾根(おね): ridge — the long narrow crest of a mountain range

KANJI NOTE:
Also written as 嶺(みね) in literary contexts. The character 峰(みね) appears in many Japanese surnames and place names.

general
Added 2026.4.9 0:36
23000/23001_mine