foot of a mountain; base of a mountain
Refers to the lower part of a mountain or the area at its base. The reading やまもと is standard; 山下 and 山本 are rare variants for this meaning.
See also: 山下 (さんか)
There is a small settlement at the foot of the mountain.
mine; colliery
Only when written 山元
Typically written 山元. Refers to a mining site, especially a coal mine.
That mine has been closed.
owner of a mountain; operator of a mine
Only when written 山元
Typically written 山元. Can refer to the proprietor of a mountain or the operator of a mining operation.
The mine operator holds the mining rights.
麓 is the everyday word for the foot of a mountain, while 山元 is a rarer, more formal term for the same area.
炭鉱 specifically means a coal mine, whereas 山元 is a broader term that can refer to any mine or mining site.
山主 refers specifically to the owner of a mountain or forest, while 山元 can also mean the operator of a mine.
Used when referring to 山元 (mountain sites) as locations or spots on terrain.
Standard kanji form; used for all senses, especially for 'mine' and 'mine owner'.
Rare variant for 'foot of a mountain'; more commonly read やました or さんか.
Rare variant for 'foot of a mountain'; more commonly a surname.
Compound of 山 (yama, 'mountain') and 元 (moto, 'origin, base'). The reading やまもと is a straightforward combination. The extended meanings 'mine' and 'mine owner' likely derive from the idea of the mountain as a source of resources.