巖 (yán) - Rock — refers to large, towering rocks & cliffs

巖Tone 2

yán ｜ 22 strokes ｜ radical:

妍嬿

巖 · yán

Rock — refers to large, towering rocks;

cliffs;

crags;

also used metaphorically for something firm, unyielding, or dangerous.

Rock — refers to large, towering rockscliffscrags

Usage highlights

RockCliffRock caveDangerous rockRocky mountainRocky shore

Synonyms

  • 岩— rock, cliff (simplified/common variant)
  • 石— stone, rock
  • 磐— large rock, foundation stone

Antonyms

  • 水— water (fluid vs. solid)
  • 沙— sand (unstable vs. stable)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The mountain peak is covered with jagged rocks (巖石).
  • They climbed the steep cliff (懸巖).
  • The cave is located in the rocky mountain (巖洞).
  • This is a dangerous rocky area (險巖).

Collocations

  • Rock(巖石)
  • Cliff(懸巖)
  • Rock cave(巖洞)
  • Dangerous rock(險巖)
  • Rocky mountain(巖山)
  • Rocky shore(巖岸)

Idioms

  • Firm as a rock(堅如磐石)
  • Dangerous as piled eggs(危如累卵)
  • Cave dwelling, simple food(穴居野處)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese landscape painting and poetry, '巖' often represents majestic, enduring natural scenery.
  • The character conveys a sense of stability and permanence, sometimes used in names to suggest strength.
  • In Buddhist contexts, '巖' can refer to meditation caves or remote mountain retreats.

FAQ