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道Nihongo Path
岳

岳·mountain peak, high mountain

On-yomi
ガク
Kun-yomi
たけ

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

8 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
山岳さんがくmountains, alpine
岳たけhigh mountain, peak
山岳地帯さんがくちたいmountainous region
岳父がくふfather-in-law

Example sentences

  1. 山岳地帯では天気が急に変わる。

    さんがくちたいではてんきがきゅうにかわる。

    In mountainous areas the weather changes suddenly.

  2. 山岳救助隊がすぐに出動した。

    さんがくきゅうじょたいがすぐにしゅつどうした。

    The mountain rescue team went out immediately.

  3. この岳は冬でも登る人が絶えない。

    このたけはふゆでものぼるひとがたえない。

    There is a steady stream of climbers on this peak even in winter.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 山岳 as さんがけ — it is さんがく
  • Using 岳 for any hill; it names high, imposing peaks, often inside mountain names

Memory aid

Picture it

A hill 丘 sitting on top of a mountain 山 — mountain stacked on mountain, so it must be a high peak.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 岳 mean?