Meaning
mountain; hill; pile; heap
Nuance & Usage
山 refers primarily to a mountain or hill. In Japan, mountains hold deep cultural significance — Mt. Fuji (富士山, Fujisan) is a national symbol. 山 appears in many compound words: 山登り (yamanobori — mountain climbing), 火山 (kazan — volcano), 登山 (tozan — mountaineering). Colloquially, 山ほど (yama hodo) means "a huge amount" (literally, "as much as a mountain").
Common Mistakes
When referring to a specific named mountain, Japanese uses さん not やま as the suffix: 富士山 is Fujisan, not Fujiyama (a common Western misconception). Also, don't confuse 山 (mountain/hill) with 丘 (oka — a small hill). The verb for climbing a mountain is 登る (noboru), not just 行く.
Example Sentences
富士山はとても高い山です。
ふじさんはとてもたかいやまです。
Mt. Fuji is a very tall mountain.
山に登るのが好きです。
やまにのぼるのがすきです。
I like climbing mountains.
山の空気はきれいですね。
やまのくうきはきれいですね。
The mountain air is clean, isn't it?
Quick Quiz
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