岩
Character learning workspace

yán · cliff

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 岩

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

Interactive stroke trainerWatch and inspect
Checking daily allowance…Please waitGo unlimited
Loading strokes…
0 strokes
Choose Watch order or Practice writing
Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 岩 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

Loading stroke diagrams…

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

8Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

山Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 岩 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

Preparing worksheet…
Customize

Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 岩

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

yánWords pronounced yán
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 岩 sits in each complete thought.

Tā de tóu zhuàng dǎo le yí kuài yán shí.他的头撞倒了一块岩石。

He hit his head against a rock.

Source: Tatoeba #1361954 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Cóng yuǎn chù kàn, yán shí xiàng yì zhāng rén de liǎn.从远处看,岩石像一张人的脸。

Seen at a distance, the rock looks like a human face.

Source: Tatoeba #344221 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā de tóu zhuàng dào le yí kuài yán shí.他的頭撞到了一塊岩石。

He hit his head against a rock.

Source: Tatoeba #889355 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Yí kuài yán shí cóng shàng miàn luò xià.一块岩石从上面落下。

A rock fell from above.

Source: Tatoeba #332567 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Hǎi dǐ de yán shí fèng lǐ cáng zhe yì zhī zhāng yú.海底的岩石缝里藏着一只章鱼。

The crevice in the boulder on the ocean floor conceals an octopus.

Source: Tatoeba #13847502 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Làng pāi zài yán shí shàng.浪拍在岩石上。

The waves crashed against the rocks.

Source: Tatoeba #6094897 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 岩 in context

  1. Say yán, then recall the core meaning: cliff.
  2. Write all 8 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 月岩 (yuè yán), meaning “moon rock”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 岩 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.