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N2

Kanji 岩: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 岩: boulder, rock, cliff

Key takeaways

Kanji 岩: boulder, rock, cliff. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N2

Meaning

boulderrockcliff

On reading

ガン

Kun reading

いわ

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 岩

boulder, rock, cliff

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

山 + 石

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

A large stone (石) found on a mountain (山) is a boulder. Imagine the massive rocks you encounter while hiking up a mountain to remember this character.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ガン
  • 岩石がんせき

    rock / stone

  • 溶岩ようがん

    lava

Kun reading

いわ
  • いわ

    rock / large stone / crag

Commonly used words

  • 岩石
    がんせき

    rock / stone

  • 溶岩
    ようがん

    lava

  • いわ

    rock / large stone / crag

Example sentences

Example 1

この山は硬い石でできている。

Translation

This mountain is made of hard rock.

Example 2

庭に小さい石を並べました。

Translation

I arranged small stones in the garden.

Example 3

火山からようがんが流れた。

Translation

Lava flowed from the volcano.

Example 4

ようがんはとても熱いです。

Translation

Lava is very hot.

Kanji 岩: boulder, rock, cliff | Daily Nihongo