山々(やまやま)

やまやま
noun, adverb
mountains; greatly
descriptive
1. mountains, many mountains
Multiple mountains; a range of mountains.
美(うつく)しい山々(やまやま)。
Beautiful mountains.
遠(とお)くに山々(やまやま)が見(み)えます。
You can see mountains in the distance.
山々(やまやま)に囲(かこ)まれた村(むら)。
A village surrounded by mountains.
秋(あき)になると、山々(やまやま)が赤(あか)や黄色(きいろ)に色(いろ)づく。
In autumn, the mountains turn red and yellow.
窓(まど)から雪(ゆき)をかぶった山々(やまやま)が見(み)えて、とてもきれいでした。
Snow-capped mountains were visible from the window, and it was very beautiful.
2. greatly, very much (wanting to)
Used to express strong desire, often followed by 'but...' to indicate constraint.
手伝(てつだ)いたいのは山々(やまやま)だ。
I'd very much like to help.
行(い)きたいのは山々(やまやま)ですが、時間(じかん)がありません。
I'd love to go, but I don't have time.
買(か)いたいのは山々(やまやま)だが、お金(かね)がない。
I'd love to buy it, but I don't have the money.
引(ひ)き受(う)けたいのは山々(やまやま)ですが、今(いま)は忙(いそが)しいです。
I'd very much like to take it on, but I'm busy right now.
もっと休(やす)みたいのは山々(やまやま)ですが、来週(らいしゅう)までに終(お)わらせなければなりません。
I'd love to rest more, but I have to finish by next week.

山々(やまやま) has two distinct meanings formed by reduplication of 山(やま).

Meaning 1 - mountains

Literal plural/collective meaning "mountains" or "many mountains."

Meaning 2 - very much

Adverbial expression meaning "very much wanting to" but implies a constraint.

Usage

The adverbial sense always implies that despite strong desire, something prevents the action. It's often used politely to decline or explain why something can't be done.

Common patterns

〜たいのは山々(やまやま)だが/ですが + reason for not doing

Related Words

Related: 山(やま) (mountain (singular))
Compare: 国々(くにぐに) (countries, nations)
Compare: 木々(きぎ) (trees)
core
Added 2026.1.16 8:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
04500/04809_yamayama