Dong Chinese dictionary

yán

cliff

Phonosemantic compound. 山 represents the meaning and 嚴 represents the sound.

Components

山 Meaning component

shān

mountain

嚴 Sound component

yán

strict

Evolution

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Regular script

Modern

Definitions

yán

cliff, precipice; cave, grotto

yán

variant of 岩[yán]

Most common words with 巖

Sources