mountain pass

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 峠 means a mountain pass; its kun-reading is とうげ.
• Basic usage: 峠(とうげ) means a mountain pass or critical point, while 峠道(とうげみち) means a road through a mountain pass.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A geographical pass and a dangerous critical point
  • 峠を越える means to cross a mountain pass. In the example about a patient's condition, 危険な峠を越した means passed a dangerous critical point.
  • 峠道 refers to a road crossing a mountain pass. Adding 道 to 峠 also adds みち after とうげ in the reading.