岸
àn · HSK 5
bank
🏖️ 岸 = 山 (mountain) + 厂 (cliff) + 干 (dry) — dry cliff by water
Etymology: 山 on top signals high ground, 厂 marks a cliff face, and 干 gives the sound (gān → àn). Together they denote the dry, elevated edge where land meets water — the shore or bank.
岸 — mountain 山 on top + cliff 厂 + 干 (phonetic)
岸 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The top combines 山 (mountain) and 厂 (cliff/slope), suggesting a steep landform by the water; 干 underneath supplies the sound. Together it depicts a high bank or shore where land meets water.