登山

• Pinyin: dēng shān
• Hanzi breakdown: 登 = 癶 (feet) + 豆 (platform); 山 = pictograph of three mountain peaks

Meaning

To climb a mountain; mountaineering; hiking. The activity of ascending mountains for sport or recreation.

Covers everything from casual hill-walking to serious mountaineering. Used both as a verb phrase (to climb mountains) and as a noun (the sport of mountaineering). Common collocations include 登山鞋 (hiking boots), 登山杖 (hiking poles), and 登山队 (mountaineering team).

Examples

1. 周末天气好的时候，我们一家人喜欢去登山。 When the weather is good on weekends, our whole family likes to go hiking.
2. 登山之前一定要准备好足够的水和食物。 Before climbing a mountain, you must prepare enough water and food.
3. 他从小就喜欢登山，已经爬过很多有名的山了。 He has loved mountain climbing since he was young and has already climbed many famous mountains.

Usage Guide

Context: sport, outdoor, recreation

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这个周末我们一起去登山吧！(Let's go hiking together this weekend!)
• 登山是一项很好的运动，对身体很有好处。(Mountaineering is a great sport and very good for your health.)

Don't Say

• 用登山来形容坐缆车上山 (Don't use 登山 if you're taking a cable car up — 登山 implies climbing on foot; say 坐缆车上山 instead)

Origin & History

登 means to climb or ascend, and 山 means mountain. A straightforward compound meaning 'to climb mountains.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal