崖
cliff, bluff, precipice
Readings
On'yomi
- ガイ
- ゲ
- ギ
Kun'yomi
- がけ
- きし
- はて
Meaning
崖 centers on a steep, exposed rock face: a cliff, bluff, or precipice.
Most common words using 崖
- 崖がけN1
cliff; precipice
- 崖っぷちがけっぷち
cliff edge; edge of a precipice
- 断崖だんがい
precipice; cliff; bluff
- 断崖絶壁だんがいぜっぺき
precipitous cliff; sheer precipice
- 崖崩れがけくずれN2
landslide; landslip
- 2025年の崖にせんにじゅうごねんのがけ
2025 digital cliff; anticipated problem of antiquated systems and shortage of human resources in IT
- ガラスの崖ガラスのがけ
glass cliff (corporate leadership)
- 崎崖きがい
steepness of a mountain
- 崖の上のポニョがけのうえのポニョ
Ponyo (2008 animated film)
- 崖上がいじょう
cliff top
- 崖下がいか
below a cliff
- 崖端歩きがけばたあるき
taking unnecessary risks; precipice walking
- 崖道がけみち
path along a cliff
- 懸崖けんがい
overhanging cliff
- 断層崖だんそうがい
fault scarp; fault escarpment
- 海食崖かいしょくがい
sea cliff
- 磨崖仏まがいぶつ
Buddha figure carved on a rock face
- 財政の崖ざいせいのがけ
fiscal cliff (e.g. potential 2013 US financial crisis); fiscal precipice
Study
Etymology
崖 combines 山 (mountain) with 厓, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of a steep edge or cliff.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 山 is a mountain, and the bottom 厓 looks like a steep drop-off. Picture a mountain ending in a sheer cliff face.
Reading mnemonic
For ガイ, imagine a guy standing on the edge of a cliff: guy -> ガイ, and he's looking down the precipice.