山坡

• Pinyin: shān pō
• Hanzi breakdown: 山 = mountain; 坡 = 土 (earth) + 皮 (skin, surface) — slope

Meaning

Hillside; slope of a mountain. The inclined surface of a hill or mountain.

Refers to any sloping terrain on a mountain or hill, from gentle grades to steep inclines. Common in descriptions of landscapes, agriculture, and hiking. Chinese villages are often described as being built on 山坡, and terraced farming frequently occurs on hillsides.

Examples

1. 羊群在山坡上悠闲地吃草。 A flock of sheep leisurely grazed on the hillside.
2. 春天的时候，山坡上开满了野花。 In spring, the hillside is covered with wildflowers.
3. 农民在山坡上开垦了梯田。 Farmers cultivated terraced fields on the mountain slope.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, nature, agriculture

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 山坡太陡了，小心滑倒。(The slope is too steep — be careful not to slip.)
• 房子建在山坡上。(The house is built on the hillside.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆'山坡'和'斜坡' (Don't confuse 山坡 with 斜坡 — 山坡 specifically refers to mountain/hill slopes; 斜坡 is any inclined surface)

Origin & History

Compound of 山 (mountain) + 坡 (slope). 坡 contains the 土 (earth) radical indicating terrain.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal