岩(いわ)

いわ
noun
rock, boulder
1. rock, boulder
A large, solid piece of stone, bigger than a stone (石(いし)) but part of the natural landscape. Often found in mountains, by the sea, or in rivers.
大(おお)きい岩(いわ)があった。
There was a big rock.
岩(いわ)の上(うえ)に座(すわ)りました。
I sat on a rock.
海(うみ)の近(ちか)くに岩(いわ)がたくさんあります。
There are many rocks near the sea.
岩(いわ)に登(のぼ)るのは危(あぶ)ないです。
Climbing rocks is dangerous.
山(やま)を歩(ある)いていたら、大(おお)きな岩(いわ)が見(み)えました。その岩(いわ)の上(うえ)に鳥(とり)がいました。
While walking in the mountains, I saw a big rock. There was a bird on top of that rock.

岩(いわ) refers to large rocks, boulders, or rock formations found in nature—larger than 石(いし) (stone).

SIZE DISTINCTION:

  • 石(いし): stones, pebbles (can be picked up)
  • 岩(いわ): boulders, rock faces (too large to move)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

COMPOUNDS:

CULTURE:
Rocks hold significance in Japanese gardens (日本庭園(にほんていえん)), where carefully placed 岩(いわ) represent mountains or islands.

Related Words

Contrast: 石(いし) (stone (small))
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:01 · Revised 2026.5.13 7:18
00500/00850_iwa