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Kotomora

山

mountain

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 1FrequencyTop 200Strokes3

Readings

On'yomi

  • サン
  • セン

Kun'yomi

  • やま

Nanori

  • さ
  • やの
  • やん

Meaning

山 centers on the idea of a mountain: a large, elevated landform rising prominently above its surroundings.

Most common words using 山

24 of 870
  • 沢山たくさん
    N5

    a lot; lots; plenty; many; a large number; much; a great deal; a good deal

  • 山やま
    N5

    mountain; hill

  • 山形やまがた

    Yamagata (city, prefecture)

  • 登山とざん
    N3

    mountain climbing; mountaineering; ascent of a mountain

  • 青山せいざん

    lush mountain; green mountain

  • 富士山ふじさん
    N5

    Mount Fuji; Mt. Fuji; Fujiyama; Fuji-san

  • 火山かざん
    N3

    volcano

  • 小山こやま

    hill; knoll

  • 鉱山こうざん
    N1

    mine (ore)

  • 山手やまて

    place near the mountains

  • 高山こうざん

    high mountain; alpine mountain

  • 山頂さんちょう
    N1

    summit (of a mountain)

  • 大山たいざん

    great mountain; large mountain

  • 山葵わさび
    N1

    wasabi (Wasabia japonica); Japanese horseradish

  • 山岳さんがく
    N1

    mountain chain; mountains

  • 山脈さんみゃく
    N1

    mountain range; mountain belt

  • 山陽さんよう

    south side of a mountain; Sanyo district

  • 下山げざん

    descending a mountain; descent

  • 山奥やまおく

    deep in the mountains; mountain recesses

  • 山々やまやま
    N1

    (many) mountains

  • 山道やまみち

    mountain road; mountain trail

  • 山間さんかん

    among the mountains

  • 本山ほんざん

    head temple

  • 山川さんせん

    mountains and rivers

Explore all words using 山 →

Study

Etymology

山 is a pictograph of a mountain with three peaks. The modern form retains the clear three-peak silhouette.

Meaning mnemonic

The three vertical strokes with a horizontal base look like a mountain with three peaks rising from the ground.

Reading mnemonic

For サン, picture the sun (サン) rising behind a mountain: sun -> サン, and the mountain stands tall in the morning light.