How to Write 岸 (àn) — Meaning “Bank / Shore / Coast”

Imagine a mountain (山) standing on a cliff (厂) beside a dry riverbed (干) — that dry edge is the shore. Or picture the word "bank" as a place where a mountain meets the water, and the "dry" ground keeps you from falling in. This visual story ties all three parts to the meaning.

Write the top 山 narrow and centered, not too wide or tall. The 厂 below should have a short horizontal stroke that extends left, then a diagonal stroke downward left, and the 干 inside must be balanced — the first horizontal of 干 aligns with the top of the cliff. A common mistake is making the 山 too flat or misaligning the vertical stroke of 干.

岸 includes the cliff radical 厂, which gives the idea of a steep bank or shore, while 屹 (yì, towering) and 屺 (qǐ, bare hill) only have the mountain radical 山 and a different phonetic part. Visually, 岸 has a box-like lower structure (厂 + 干), whereas 屹 has 乞 (qǐ) below and 屺 has 己 (jǐ). In usage, 岸 is common for river/coast, while 屹 and 屺 are rare and mostly literary.

岸 appears in common words like 海岸 (coastline), 对岸 (opposite bank), and 上岸 (to go ashore or land). In modern slang, 上岸 can also mean "to succeed" or "to get out of a difficult situation," like passing a tough exam or leaving a stressful job. It is a practical character for describing geography and everyday transitions.

Common words containing 岸 include: 对岸 (duì àn) — Opposite bank / Other side of the river; 海岸 (hǎi àn) — Coast / Shoreline; 上岸 (shàng àn) — To go ashore; to land.