Japanese word

崖

Pronunciation

Romajigake

Meaning

  • nouncliff

Example

海の近くに崖があります。umi no chika ku ni gake ga a ri ma su

There is a cliff near the sea.

Illustration for 崖 (cliff)

More examples

強い風が吹くと、崖の近くでは足元に注意が必要です。tsuyo i kaze ga fu ku to gake no chika ku de wa ashi moto ni chū i ga hitsu yō de su

When strong winds blow, you need to watch your footing near the cliff.

Core concept

Refers to a steep edge of land where the ground drops sharply, often beside the sea or on a mountain.

Common phrases

  • 崖の上gake no ue

    top of a cliff

  • 崖の下gake no shita

    bottom of a cliff

  • 崖を登るgake o nobo ru

    climb a cliff

Similar words

断崖dangai: A very steep edge of land, often with exposed rock and a sharp drop.
絶壁zeppeki: A nearly vertical rock face with little or no gentle slope.

Definition in Japanese

海や山などにある、地面が急に切れ落ちている所。umi ya yama na do ni a ru ji men ga kyū ni ki re o chi te i ru tokoro

Word origin

The native Japanese word がけ (gake) has no certain recorded etymology; it is written with 崖 (gai, "cliff"), a kanji meaning a steep land edge.

Usage tips

  • In English, cliff can describe both a coastal rock face and a steep mountain edge, while precipice often emphasizes the danger of falling.

Other meanings

  • precipicenoun

Word lists with this word