岸
beach
Readings
On'yomi
- ガン
Kun'yomi
- きし
Nanori
- けし
Meaning
岸 centers on the edge where land meets water: a beach, shore, or bank.
Most common words using 岸
20 of 107- 海岸かいがんN4
seashore; coast; seaside; waterfront; beach
- 岸きしN3
bank; coast; shore
- 沿岸えんがんN1
coast; shore
- 西海岸にしかいがん
west coast
- 湾岸わんがん
gulf coast; bay coast
- 彼岸ひがんN1
equinoctial week (when Buddhist services are held)
- 対岸たいがん
opposite shore
- 東海岸ひがしかいがん
east coast
- 西岸せいがん
west coast; west bank
- 岸辺きしべN1
shore; bank (of a body of water)
- 川岸かわぎし
riverbank; riverside
- 彼岸花ひがんばな
red spider lily (Lycoris radiata); cluster amaryllis
- 河岸かし
riverbank; riverside
- 岸壁がんぺき
quay; wharf; jetty
- 護岸ごがん
river dike
- 右岸うがん
right bank (of a river)
- 東岸とうがん
eastern coast; east bank
- 左岸さがん
left bank (of a river)
- 根岸線ねぎしせん
Negishi Line
- 南岸なんがん
south coast; south bank
Study
Etymology
岸 combines 山 (mountain) with 厈, which likely represents a cliff or bank. Together they suggest a steep shoreline where mountains meet water.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 山 is a mountain, and the bottom 厈 looks like a cliff (厂) with a dry bank (干) beside it. Picture a mountain rising straight from the beach, with waves lapping at its base.
Reading mnemonic
For ガン, imagine a gun (ガン) washed up on the beach, half-buried in the sand. The gun -> ガン sound ties the reading to the shoreline scene.