森林

• Reading: しんりん
• Romaji: shinrin
• Kanji breakdown: 森 (shin) — forest (three trees); 林 (rin) — grove (two trees)
• Pronunciation: /ɕiŋ.ɾiŋ/

Meaning

Forest; woods. A large area densely covered with trees and undergrowth.

More formal than 森 (forest, mori) alone. Used in official and environmental contexts. Common compounds include 森林浴 (forest bathing — a popular Japanese wellness practice), 森林保護 (forest conservation), and 熱帯森林 (tropical forest).

Examples

1. 日本の国土の約七割は森林です。 About 70% of Japan's land area is forest.
2. 森林を守ることは地球にとって大切です。 Protecting forests is important for the planet.
3. 週末に森林の中をハイキングしました。 I went hiking through the forest on the weekend.

Usage Guide

Context: environment, geography, education

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 森 (forest, many trees) and 林 (grove, woods). Both kanji depict multiple trees — 森 has three 木 (tree) characters and 林 has two, together emphasizing dense tree cover.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal