How to Write 嵒 (yán) — Meaning “cliff / rock”

Picture a tall mountain (山) with three cave entrances (品) carved into its side — this makes a cliff with caves. The three mouths remind you of the word "rock" because rocks often have holes and cracks. This image links the shape to the meaning of a rocky cliff.

Write the top 山 first with three strokes, then the bottom 品 (three identical 口 radicals) in a triangular layout. A common mistake is making the bottom 品 too wide, so keep each 口 narrow and aligned vertically. Ensure the middle 口 sits slightly lower than the left and right ones for balance.

嵒 (yán) means "cliff rock" and has 山 on top with 品 (three mouths) below. 峨 (é) means "tall" or "lofty" and has 山 with 我 (I/me) on the right — it is often used in 巍峨 (majestic). 峪 (yù) means "valley" and has 山 with 谷 (valley) below. The key difference is the bottom part: 品 (rock crevices) vs. 我 (self) vs. 谷 (valley).

嵒 is rare in everyday modern Chinese, where the simpler character 岩 (yán) is used for "rock" or "cliff." It mainly appears in ancient texts, poetry, or place names like 嵒邑 (Yanyi, a historic site). Knowing 嵒 can help you read classical literature about mountains and landscapes.

Common words containing 嵒 include: 嵒石 (yán shí) — cliff rock; 嵒穴 (yán xué) — cliff cave / grotto; 嵒邑 (yán yì) — Yanyi (a place name).