峨眉山

峨眉 derives from the word 蛾眉 (éméi, “the feathery feelers of a moth”), so named because the peaks of Mount Emei do in fact resemble the feelers of a moth (see pictures). The “insect” radical (虫) on the left side of the first character 蛾 (é) was later replaced with the “mountain” radical (山 (shān)). Thus, 蛾 (é) eventually became 峨 (é), so as to denote the mountain. The “mountain” radical can be optionally added to the second character 眉 (méi). Both 峨嵋 (Éméi) and 峨眉 have been used through the centuries. 山 (shān) simply means “mountain”.

峨眉山

1. Mount Emei
2. (～市) Emeishan (a county-level city of Sichuan, China)