巖

Phono-semantic compound:

山 (메 산) — semantic component, indicates mountain, rock, or geological formation.

嚴 (엄할 엄) — phonetic component, provides the sound yán / am and conveys the sense of sternness, solidity, and austerity.

Thus 山 + 嚴 → 巖 — “a stern or formidable mountain,” i.e., a rugged rock or cliff.

In Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字):

「巖，山之高而石也。从山，嚴聲。」

“巖 means the high rocky part of a mountain; composed of 山 and phonetic 嚴.”

Originally written as 巖, the form later simplified to 岩, which became the standard in both Simplified Chinese and Japanese Shinjitai.

In Korean use, 岩 is far more common in modern writing and signage, though 巖 remains the traditional form.

岩石 / 巖石 (암석) — rock; stone

岩洞 / 巖洞 (암동) — cave in a rock; grotto

岩層 (암층) — rock layer; stratum

岩盤 (암반) — bedrock; rock base

岩窟 (암굴) — rocky cave

巖壁 (암벽) — cliff wall; rock face

巖固 (암고) — firm, steadfast (literary)

Kangxi Dictionary (康熙字典, vol. 344):

「巖，山之高而石也。」

“巖 means the high and rocky parts of a mountain.”

Book of Odes (詩經 · 小雅 · 伐木):

「出自幽谷，遷於喬巖。」

“Emerging from the deep valley, he moved to the lofty cliffs” — 巖 here expresses the imagery of elevation and strength.

Zhuangzi (莊子 · 山木):

「巖居而水飲。」

“Dwelling among rocks and drinking from streams” — referring to the life of a recluse or sage in the mountains.

Beyond its literal sense, 巖 symbolizes firmness, endurance, and moral strength, the steadfast nature of rock that withstands time and storm alike.

The simplified form 岩 (U+5CA9) derives directly from the omission of components in 巖 and has been in continuous use since the clerical script (隸書) period.

岩 is predominant in modern Korean, Chinese, and Japanese usage.