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山陵 (sanryou) Japanese meaning: mountains and hills | Kotomora

山さん陵りょう

さ

ん

りょ

う

Meanings

1

mountains and hills

Literary or formal term for mountains and hills collectively; not used in everyday conversation.

この地ち方ほうは山さん陵りょうが多おおく、平へい野やは少すくない。
This region has many mountains and hills, and few plains.

2

Refers specifically to the tomb of an emperor or member of the imperial family; a formal, historical term.

仁にん徳とく天皇てんのうの山さん陵りょうは大おお阪さかにある。
The imperial tomb of Emperor Nintoku is in Osaka.

Kanji

山mountain
陵mausoleum, imperial tomb, mound

Related words

陵りょう墓ぼ
陵墓 is a broader term for imperial or royal tombs, while 山陵 specifically emphasizes the mound-shaped tomb of an emperor.
山やま々やま
山々 is the common word for 'mountains' in everyday speech, whereas 山陵 is a formal, literary term for mountains and hills.

Etymology

Compound of 山 (mountain) and 陵 (mound, imperial tomb). The 'mountains and hills' sense is a straightforward combination of the characters, while the 'imperial tomb' sense derives from the ancient practice of building large keyhole-shaped burial mounds.