山やま々やま

や

ま

や

ま

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

mountains; many mountains

Plural or collective use of 山, referring to a range, group, or many mountains rather than one mountain.

遠とおくに雪ゆきをかぶった山やま々やまが見みえる。
Snow-capped mountains can be seen in the distance.

2

adverb

would really like to; very much;

really

usually written using kana alone

Most often used in patterns such as 〜たいのはやまやまだが or 欲しいのはやまやまだが, meaning that one strongly wants something but cannot do or have it.

手伝てつだいたいのはやまやまだが、今日きょうは時じ間かんがない。
I'd really like to help, but I don't have time today.

3

adverb

so many; a lot of

usually written using kana alone

Used adverbially for a large amount, especially in expressions like ことはやまやまある. This use is narrower than the very common 山ほど.

言いいたいことはやまやまあるが、今いまは黙だまっておく。
There are a lot of things I want to say, but for now I'll keep quiet.

Written forms

山やま々やまUsage91%
Standard kanji spelling using the iteration mark 々; especially natural for the noun meaning “mountains.”
やまやまUsage7%
Kana spelling is especially common for the adverbial senses.
山やま山やまUsage1%
Attested spelling without the iteration mark; less common than 山々 but understandable.
ヤマヤマUsage1%

Kanji

山mountain

Similar words

山やまほど
A more general and common expression for “a lot” or “heaps of”; やまやま is more limited and often appears in fixed patterns.
ぜひ
Also expresses strong desire or intention, but ぜひ is positive and direct, while やまやま often implies “I would like to, but...”
山やま
Means a single mountain or mountain-like pile; 山々 emphasizes multiple mountains or a large collective quantity.

Etymology

A reduplication of 山, with 々 marking repetition in the common spelling 山々. The adverbial meanings extend metaphorically from the idea of mountains or a great amount.