山脈

• Reading: さんみゃく
• Romaji: sanmyaku
• Kanji breakdown: 山 (san/yama) — mountain; 脈 (myaku) — vein, pulse, chain
• Pronunciation: /sam.mja.kɯ/

Meaning

Mountain range; mountain chain. A series of connected mountains forming a linear or arc-shaped landform sharing a common geological origin.

A noun used in geographical and geological contexts. 山脈 refers specifically to a continuous chain of mountains, as opposed to isolated peaks. It appears frequently in proper names such as ヒマラヤ山脈 and アルプス山脈, and is standard vocabulary for geography education at all levels.

Examples

1. ヒマラヤ山脈には世界最高峰をはじめ、多くの八千メートル峰が連なっている。 The Himalayas include the world's highest peak along with many other eight-thousandmetre summits in a continuous chain.
2. この山脈は古代から隣国との自然の国境線として機能してきた。 Since ancient times, this mountain range has served as a natural border between neighbouring countries.
3. 日本アルプスと呼ばれる山脈は飛騨、木曽、赤石の三つから成る。 The mountain range known as the Japanese Alps consists of three parts: the Hida, Kiso, and Akaishi ranges.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, geology, travel

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 山 (mountain) and 脈 (vein, pulse, connected chain). The character 脈 implies a continuous flow or connection, likening a mountain range to veins running through the earth.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal