岩
KANJI DETAIL
rock
On readingがん8 strokesN4
Radical 山 · mountainStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 岩.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- がん
- Kun reading
- いわ
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
岩means a rock; its kun-reading isいわand its on-reading isがん. - Basic usage:
岩(いわ)means a rock or boulder, while岩石(がんせき)means rock.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Readings for a rock and rock material
岩refers to a large rock providing shade or rocks struck by waves. The standalone word is readいわ.岩石is used for a rock picked up by a river or the rocks forming strata. It begins withがん, and the two words overlap in referring to rocks.