(もり)

もり
noun
forest, woods
1. forest
A large area covered with trees.
To walk through the forest.
There are animals in the forest.
I got lost in the deep forest.
I can hear birds in the forest.
The forest air is fresh.
It's dangerous to enter the forest.
2. woods, grove
A smaller wooded area.
The grove around the shrine is quiet.
There is a small woods.
We played in the park woods.
There's a small woods near my house.
There's a small woods behind the school, and children often play there.

(もり) refers to a forest or wooded area, typically denser than (はやし).

COMPARE - FOREST WORDS:

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

CULTURAL NOTE:
In Shinto, 鎮守(ちんじゅ)(もり) refers to sacred groves around shrines, believed to be dwelling places of (かみ) (gods).

COMMON EXPRESSIONS: