Mountain in Japanese
"mountain" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
山
yama
4 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "mountain". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
山 is a mountain. 岳 is a high peak, used in the names of serious mountains. 峠 is a mountain pass, and it is a Japanese-made character. 麓 is the foot of a mountain, 裾 its skirt. Japanese names the parts of a mountain that matter to someone walking it.
Top pick
mountain
Reading: san
3 strokes · nature
Where it comes from
Pictograph depicting three connected mountain peaks.
What it carries
Nature, sacred, place of training. Deeply rooted in Japanese culture as objects of mountain worship.
Related kanji for "mountain"
mountain
gaku · nature
Composed of hill and mountain. High mountain.
mountain
touge · peaceful, nature
Composed of mountain, up, and down. Mountain up and down.
mountain
roku · nature
Combines 'forest' (林) with 'deer' (鹿), representing the wooded lower parts of mountains—foothills.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for mountain?
The most common kanji for "mountain" is 山, read as san. It means mountain. Related kanji: 岳 (mountain), 峠 (mountain), 麓 (mountain).
How many strokes does 山 have?
山 has 3 strokes.