岩 (yán) - Rock, cliff, crag & refers to rocky mountains or large stones.

岩Tone 2

yán ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 山

妍嬿

岩 · yán

Rock, cliff, crag;

refers to rocky mountains or large stones.

Rock, cliff, cragrefers to rocky mountains or large stones.

Usage highlights

RockCliffCaveVolcanic rockLimestoneRock formation

Synonyms

  • 石— stone, rock
  • 磐— massive rock
  • 礁— reef, rock in water

Antonyms

  • 沙— sand (loose vs. solid)
  • 泥— mud (soft vs. hard)
  • 水— water (fluid vs. solid)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The mountain is full of rocks (岩石).
  • We climbed the cliff (岩壁).
  • The cave is in the rocky mountain (岩洞).
  • This is a volcanic rock (火山岩).

Collocations

  • Rock(岩石)
  • Cliff(岩壁)
  • Cave(岩洞)
  • Volcanic rock(火山岩)
  • Limestone(石灰岩)
  • Rock formation(岩层)

Idioms

  • As firm as a rock(坚如磐石)
  • A cliff and a thousand fathoms — an impregnable position(岩墙千仞)
  • Rock-solid foundation(岩基永固)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, rocks symbolize stability, endurance, and unyielding character.
  • Often used in names to convey strength, reliability, and steadfastness.
  • Featured in classical Chinese landscape painting as a central element representing nature's permanence.

FAQ