岳 (yuè): high mountain

Meanings

1 high mountain
2 mountain peak (classical)
3 wife's parents and paternal uncles
4 surname Yue

Characters

岳

yuè

high mountain; father-in-law's side; surname Yue

Examples

五岳是中国最著名的五座山。

Wǔ yuè shì Zhōngguó zuì zhùmíng de wǔ zuò shān.

The Five Sacred Mountains are the most famous peaks in China.

岳飞是南宋著名的爱国将领。

Yuèfēi shì Nán Sòng zhùmíng de àiguó jiānglǐng.

Yue Fei was a famous patriotic general of the Southern Song dynasty.

Tips

history

岳 in classical Chinese specifically meant a great sacred mountain. China's 五岳 (Five Sacred Mountains) include 泰山 (east), 华山 (west), 衡山 (south), 恒山 (north), and 嵩山 (center). 岳 also means 'father-in-law's family' in modern Chinese — 岳父 (father-in-law), 岳母 (mother-in-law).

In Pop Culture

岳飞 Yuèfēi

Yue Fei (1103–1142) — legendary Southern Song general and national hero celebrated for resisting the Jin dynasty invasion. He was betrayed and executed by the treacherous minister Qin Hui. His story is one of the most iconic in Chinese patriotic culture.

Historical figure (Song dynasty)