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Glite Dictionary
Tien Shan

Tien Shan

7.7
A large mountain range in Central Asia that stretches about 1,500 miles
  • proper noun
translation icon : Tien Shan
  • The expedition set out to cross the entire length of the Tien Shan range.

Examples

  • The Tien Shan mountains are known for their dramatic peaks and glaciers.

  • Snow leopards are sometimes found in the remote areas of the Tien Shan.

  • The Tien Shan mountains are breathtaking.

  • Many trekkers explore the Tien Shan region every year.

  • The Tien Shan mountains are known for their dramatic peaks and glaciers.

  • Snow leopards are sometimes found in the remote areas of the Tien Shan.

  • The expedition set out to cross the entire length of the Tien Shan range.

Synonyms

Tian Shan
vsTien Shan
7.0

A large mountain range in Central Asia stretching across China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan

is the identical range but described without extra place details
Tyan Shan
vsTien Shan
8.2

A high mountain range in Central Asia with tall snowy peaks and glaciers

is the same range but given without listing specific countries

Surface Forms

Tien Shan main

Morphology

Tien + shan

The element 'shan' transparently means 'mountain', and if a learner knew 'Tien' (a transliteration of Chinese/Turkic for 'heaven/sky') they could infer the phrase refers to mountains ('heavenly mountains'). However, as a proper name for a specific, extensive Central Asian range the full informational content (size, transnational extent, location) is not predictable from the constituents alone, and transliterated proper names are partly language-specific and variable.

Etymology

Tien Shan comes from Chinese words Tien meaning 'heaven' and Shan meaning 'mountain'. People called the high, snowy peaks the 'Heavenly Mountains' because they seem to reach the sky, and today Tien Shan is the name of that great mountain range.