峥 (zhēng): (in 峥嵘) lofty and steep; toweri…

Meanings

回首那段峥嵘岁月。

Huíshǒu nàduàn zhēngróng suìyuè.

We look back on those eventful, remarkable years.

前方怪峰峥嵘。

Qiánfāng guàifēng zhēngróng.

Ahead rose strange peaks, towering and steep.

usage

Bound to 峥嵘. Literally it means tall, jagged peaks, but the most common use is figurative: 峥嵘岁月 (extraordinary, eventful years).

radical

山 shān

mountain

The mountain radical on the left, the meaning carrier. It signals that the base sense is about high, steep peaks.

phonetic

争 zhēng

to contend; to vie

Provides the sound, read 争 and unchanged here. Its sense of striving upward also faintly suits peaks competing to rise highest.

峥 zhēng