Explore 森 in words for forests and a relaxing visit among trees. Learn each reading with the whole word.

The idea

森 has 12 strokes and consists of three 木 components. The standalone noun 森 is read もり; in 森林 and 森林浴 it is read しん. Follow the linked stroke-order diagram.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample
森もりWe walked through the forest.
森林しんりんForests are home to many animals.
森林浴しんりんよくI enjoyed forest bathing on the weekend.

Examples

  • 森もりを歩あるきました。We walked through the forest.
  • 森もりに小ちいさな湖みずうみがあります。There is a small lake in the forest.
  • 朝あさの森もりで鳥とりが歌うたいます。Birds sing in the morning forest.
  • 森林しんりんは多おおくの動物どうぶつの住すみかです。Forests are home to many animals.
  • 森林しんりんを守まもる必要ひつようがあります。We need to protect forests.
  • 週末しゅうまつに森林浴しんりんよくを楽たのしみました。I enjoyed forest bathing on the weekend.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not assume 森 and 林 are interchangeable: 林 usually refers to a grove or woods, while 森 suggests a forest. 森林 is a compound meaning forest or woodland.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 森 in hiragana.

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    もり

    森 is もり as a standalone word: 森を歩きました means “We walked through the forest.”

  2. Write the reading of 森林 in hiragana.

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    しんりん

    森林 is しんりん; both characters have their compound readings in this word.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 森＿（しんりん）［林／木］.

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    林

    林 completes 森林（しんりん）, meaning forest or woodland. 木 alone would not form this word.

Use it today

Write 森 following the diagram. Cover the readings, read 森 and 森林 aloud, then make a sentence about a forest.