Meaning
岸 means shore, bank, or coast — the edge of land where it meets a body of water such as the sea, a river, or a lake. You will find it across a wide range of everyday vocabulary tied to geography and nature.
Structurally, 岸 is a compound ideograph built from three visual elements. At the top sits 山 (mountain, hill), suggesting elevated or rocky terrain. Below it is 厂 (a cliff or overhang, representing a steep rocky face), and at the base is 干 (dry, solid ground). Together they evoke a rocky, cliff-like landform rising at the water's edge — exactly what a rugged riverbank or coastline often looks like.
Picture a high, dry rocky bluff overlooking the sea. That is the scene this kanji encodes. 岸 is taught in the 3rd grade of Japanese elementary school, written with 8 strokes, and sits at the N2 level of the JLPT.
Beyond its literal geographical sense, 岸 also carries metaphorical weight in Buddhist contexts. The compound 彼岸 (ひがん) literally means "the other shore" — the realm of enlightenment or the afterlife, as opposed to this world of suffering (此岸, しがん). This spiritual layer gives 岸 a depth that stretches well beyond landscape vocabulary.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi of 岸 is ガン (gan). This reading comes from the kanji's historical Chinese pronunciation. It is used primarily in formal or literary compounds and rarely appears in isolation.
- 海岸 (kaigan) — seashore, coast, beach
- 対岸 (taigan) — the opposite shore, the other bank
- 沿岸 (engan) — coastline, along the coast
- 岸壁 (ganpeki) — cliff face; also a pier or wharf (vertical stone wall)
- 彼岸 (higan) — the vernal/autumnal equinox; the "other shore" (Buddhist)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi is きし (kishi), the everyday word for a bank or shore. It appears frequently in spoken language and literature, and often combines with other native Japanese words.
- 岸 (kishi) — shore, bank (used alone)
- 川岸 (kawagishi) — riverbank
- 岸辺 (kishibe) — waterside, the edge of the shore
- 湖岸 (kogan) — lakeshore
Common Words & Compounds
岸 forms a productive set of compounds across geography, navigation, and culture. Here are the most useful ones to know at N2 level and beyond.
Seashore and Coast:
- 海岸 (kaigan) — seacoast, seashore, beach
- 沿岸 (engan) — coast, coastal area, along the shore
- 海岸線 (kaigansen) — coastline
- 岸壁 (ganpeki) — cliff; quay, pier (a stone wharf)
Rivers and Lakes:
- 川岸 (kawagishi) — riverbank
- 岸辺 (kishibe) — waterside, the bank's edge
- 湖岸 (kogan) — lakeshore
- 左岸 (sagan) — left bank (of a river)
- 右岸 (ugan) — right bank (of a river)
Directional and Relational:
- 対岸 (taigan) — the opposite bank or shore
- 接岸 (setsugan) — coming alongside a pier, docking
- 離岸 (rigan) — leaving the shore, casting off
Cultural and Literary:
- 彼岸 (higan) — the spring and autumn equinox periods; Buddhist term for enlightenment or the afterlife ("the other shore")
- 此岸 (shigan) — this world, the world of suffering (Buddhist, contrast to 彼岸)
Example Sentences
川の岸に座って、水を眺めた。
Kawa no kishi ni suwatte, mizu wo nagameta.
I sat on the riverbank and gazed at the water.
海岸沿いにホテルが並んでいる。
Kaigan zoi ni hoteru ga narande iru.
Hotels line up along the coast.
対岸の火事は関係ないと思っていた。
Taigan no kaji wa kankei nai to omotteita.
I used to think the fire on the other side of the river had nothing to do with me. (idiom: to treat others' problems as none of your business)
船が岸壁に接岸した。
Fune ga ganpeki ni setsugan shita.
The ship docked at the pier.
子供たちは川岸で魚を捕まえようとしていた。
Kodomotachi wa kawagishi de sakana wo tsukamaeyou to shite ita.
The children were trying to catch fish at the riverbank.
この地域の沿岸は漁業が盛んだ。
Kono chiiki no engan wa gyogyou ga sakan da.
Fishing is thriving along the coast of this region.
彼岸の時期にはお墓参りをする習慣がある。
Higan no jiki ni wa ohaka mairi wo suru shukan ga aru.
There is a custom of visiting graves during the equinox period (Higan).
嵐の後、岸辺には多くのゴミが打ち上げられていた。
Arashi no ato, kishibe ni wa ooku no gomi ga uchiagerarete ita.
After the storm, a lot of debris had washed up on the shore.
湖岸を一周するトレイルは約20キロある。
Kogan wo isshu suru toreiru wa yaku nijuu kiro aru.
The trail that goes around the lakeshore is about 20 kilometers long.
台風の影響で沿岸部の住民は避難を求められた。
Taifuu no eikyou de engan-bu no juumin wa hinan wo motomerareta.
Due to the typhoon, residents in coastal areas were urged to evacuate.
Memory Tip
To remember 岸 (きし / ガン), picture a rocky mountain (山) looming over a cliff (厂) above dry land (干) — right where the earth meets the water. The kanji literally stacks those three ideas on top of each other, from high ground down to the solid bank below. For the on'yomi ガン, anchor it to 海岸 (かいがん) — the most common compound you will encounter. Hear it once in a weather forecast or travel show and the -gan ending sticks naturally.