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巖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
巖yáncliff, precipice; cave, grottozg, 23 strokes, radical 山
yán(yan2) T2
  1. 1cliff, precipice; cave, grotto
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March 24, 2026

巖yán(yan2)

The character 巖 (yán) refers to a steep cliff or precipice, often associated with dramatic, rocky landscapes. It can also denote a cave or grotto, emphasizing natural formations that are typically rugged and secluded. This term is commonly used in geographic descriptions and poetic expressions of nature.

Strokes23Radical山
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry and art, cliffs and caves symbolize both beauty and danger, often serving as metaphors for life's challenges. The character 巖 captures this duality, reflecting the reverence for nature found in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a steep cliff (巖) where a brave adventurer stands, looking over the edge. The left part of the character, the radical '山' (mountain), symbolizes the height and ruggedness, while the right part '厭' (to dislike) can remind you of the fear one might feel standing atop a precipice. Together, they create a vivid image of nature's extremes.

Meanings of 巖

yán(yan2)
1cliff, precipice; cave, grotto
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 巖 means.

About 巖

巖Simplified
23Strokes
山Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 巖

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Podcast: 巖

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AI Study Notes for 巖

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 巖 (yán) with other characters for rock or stone, such as 石 (shí). Remember that 巖 specifically refers to cliffs or caves, not just any rock. It is generally used in a more formal context, especially in literature or geography.

HSK Study Tips

While 巖 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to other words describing natural features, such as 山 (shān, mountain) and 河 (hé, river). Students should focus on recognizing it in context, especially in texts discussing landscapes or natural formations.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 巖 to refer to any type of rock. For example, saying '这块巖是很坚硬的' (This piece of cliff is very hard) is incorrect; the correct term for a rock should be 石 instead. Always remember 巖 indicates steep cliffs or caves.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 巖

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Etymology of 巖

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

mountain

Semantic (meaning)山
+
Phonetic (sound)嚴
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

巖 = 山 + 嚴. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 巖

IDS Structure⿱山嚴
巖Full Character
=
山Shan1
top
嚴yan2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 巖?

How to say cliff, precipice; cave, grotto in Chinese

“cliff, precipice; cave, grotto” in Chinese is巖yán

The character 巖 (yán) refers to a steep cliff or precipice, often associated with dramatic, rocky landscapes. It can also denote a cave or grotto, emphasizing natural formations that are typically rugged and secluded. This term is commonly used in geographic descriptions and poetic expressions of nature.

When to use 巖

Learners often confuse 巖 (yán) with other characters for rock or stone, such as 石 (shí). Remember that 巖 specifically refers to cliffs or caves, not just any rock. It is generally used in a more formal context, especially in literature or geography.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 巖 to refer to any type of rock. For example, saying '这块巖是很坚硬的' (This piece of cliff is very hard) is incorrect; the correct term for a rock should be 石 instead. Always remember 巖 indicates steep cliffs or caves.

Write 巖

巖

Practice writing 巖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 巖

Words Containing This Character20
岩yáncliff
岩石yánshírock
岩浆lava岩漿
熔岩lava
花岗岩granite花崗岩
岩层rock strata巖層
砂岩sandstone
龙岩Longyan prefecture-level city in Fujian龍岩
岩溶karst, kind of porous limestone (geology)
火山岩volcanic rock
攀岩rock climbing
玄武岩lava
片麻岩gneiss
灰岩limestone
页岩shale頁岩
泥岩mudstone
石灰岩limestone
岩画rock painting巖畫
云岩区Yunyan district of Guiyang city 貴陽市|贵阳市[Guì​yáng​shì], Guizhou雲岩區
基岩base rock
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 巖

What does 岩 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 巖

The pinyin for 巖 is 'yán'. Make sure to use the second tone, which rises slightly in pitch.

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