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March 24, 2026
岸(㟁)àn(an4)
The character 岸 (àn) refers to a landform at the edge of a body of water, such as a beach, coast, or shore. It is commonly used in contexts relating to geography and nature, often paired with other characters to describe various types of shores or banks.
Strokes8Radical山Frequency#7827DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 岸 is tied to traditional poetry and literature that often celebrates nature's beauty, reflecting the importance of natural landscapes in Chinese art and philosophy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tall 'ant' (àn) standing on the edge of a 'cliff' (the radical for 'rock,' 岩, resembles a rocky shore) watching the waves crash against the 'beach.' This visual of the ant at the shore helps recall both the meaning and pronunciation.
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AI Study Notes for 岸
Quick Contrast
海岸 (hǎi'àn) vs 河岸 (hé'àn) — use 海岸 for coastal areas by the sea and 河岸 for riverbanks.
Usage Notes
When using 岸, be mindful of its context, as it often appears in geographical terms. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding characters like 安 (ān, peace). Common collocations include 海岸 (hǎi'àn, seaside) and 河岸 (hé'àn, riverbank).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 岸 connects to other geographical terms and expressions. Students should focus on its usage in descriptive phrases about nature and practice reading sentences that include this character to reinforce meaning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 岸 as ān instead of àn. Additionally, some may confuse it with characters like 安 (ān, peace) when writing, leading to incorrect usage.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 岸
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The 山 (mountain) and 厂 (cliff) components hint at the landscape-related meaning. 干 represents the sound.
1The giveawayA mountain 山 cliff 厂; 干 provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 岸? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 岸?
Decomposition of 岸
IDS Structure⿱山⿸厂干
岸Full Character
=
山Shan1
top
厂chang3
enclosing
干gan1
inner
Exercise 1 of 3
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 岸?
How to say beach, coast, shore in Chinese
“beach, coast, shore” in Chinese is岸àn
The character 岸 (àn) refers to a landform at the edge of a body of water, such as a beach, coast, or shore. It is commonly used in contexts relating to geography and nature, often paired with other characters to describe various types of shores or banks.
When to use 岸
When using 岸, be mindful of its context, as it often appears in geographical terms. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding characters like 安 (ān, peace). Common collocations include 海岸 (hǎi'àn, seaside) and 河岸 (hé'àn, riverbank).
岸 or something close to it
海岸 (hǎi'àn) vs 河岸 (hé'àn) — use 海岸 for coastal areas by the sea and 河岸 for riverbanks.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 岸 as ān instead of àn. Additionally, some may confuse it with characters like 安 (ān, peace) when writing, leading to incorrect usage.
Write 岸
岸
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Practice writing 岸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 岸
岸 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
5只划艇排成一行从对____出发了。
A string of five rowing boats set out from the opposite bank.
