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Kotomora

岸

beach

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes8

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

Explore all words using 岸 →

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.