戈壁
Gē bì · HSK 7
gobi
🏜️ 戈 = dagger-axe weapon, 壁 = wall/rampart; together names the Gobi
戈 is an ancient halberd-like weapon and 壁 means wall or cliff-face. The compound is a phonetic transcription of the Mongolian word govi (waterless place), with characters chosen partly for their stark, barren feel.