山

山 is a pictograph depicting the shape of a mountain.

The original form of the pictograph showed a large triangular mountain in the center with smaller mountains on each side.

Over time, the mountain base part transformed into horizontal strokes, and the peaks into vertical strokes, evolving into the modern character.

The native Korean word '메' means mountain, though it is now rarely used, having been largely replaced by the Sino-Korean word '산'.

However, 메 still appears frequently in brand names and company names.

Characters that use 山 as a radical often have meanings related to mountains or mountain passes.