山

contributes the sense of mountains · Kangxi radical 46

contributes the sense of mountains, hills and rocky high ground, and also serves as a sound hint in words read shan/xian

The oldest form is a simple picture of a range seen from a distance: three peaks rising from a common base line. The modern 山 keeps exactly that shape — a taller central stroke with a shorter peak on each side, joined at the bottom by the horizontal ground. When it sits on top of a character it is squashed flat, as in 崔 or 崽, and in a few characters like 岁 or 缶 the mountain shape is only the accidental result of later simplification rather than a real hill.

山 at a glance

Meaning

contributes the sense of mountains

Strokes

3

Characters

131

Role

Contributes meaning

Kangxi radical

46

Characters with 山 (102 of 131)

Frequently asked questions