ChiramiN5 kanji · 3 strokes
山 means mountain
山
山Real origin
It began as a drawing of three mountain peaks.
Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.
Meaning and readings
- Meaning
- mountain
- JLPT level
- N5
- Strokes
- 3
- School grade
- Grade 1 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) やま yama
やま (yama) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) サン san
サン (san) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: セン sen
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
山登り やまのぼり · yamanobori
mountain climbing, mountaineering
Used in 35 kanji
Quick check
What does 山 mean?
Right: 山 means mountain.Not quite: 山 means mountain.In 山登り, which reading does 山 use?
Right. 山登り is read やまのぼり (yamanobori): 山 takes やま, its Japanese reading.Not quite. 山登り is read やまのぼり (yamanobori): 山 takes やま, its Japanese reading.