陡

• Pinyin: dǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 陡 = 阝(mound/hill) + 走 (walk) — depicting a sudden steep rise in terrain

Meaning

Steep; precipitous; abrupt. Describes slopes, cliffs, or sudden sharp changes in gradient or direction.

Used for physically steep terrain (山路陡峭), but also metaphorically for sudden abrupt changes (风向陡转, prices that surge sharply). Interchangeable with 陡峭 (steep) and 陡然 (suddenly/abruptly) in many contexts.

Examples

1. 山路越走越陡，很多游客到此便不再前行。 The mountain road got steeper and steeper, and many tourists stopped there and didn’t go on.
2. 股价在开盘后陡然下跌，令投资者措手不及。 The stock price suddenly plunged after the market opened, catching investors off guard.
3. 悬崖两侧陡如刀削，令人望而生畏。 The cliffs on both sides were as sheer as if cut with a knife, making people afraid to even look.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, finance, description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这段山路极为陡峭，徒步者需要借助绳索才能攀登。(This stretch of mountain path is extremely steep — hikers need ropes to climb it.)
• 气温在入冬后陡降十几度，市民纷纷加厚衣物。(Temperatures dropped sharply by more than ten degrees after winter arrived, prompting residents to layer up.)

Don't Say

• 性格很陡 — 陡 describes terrain or sudden changes, not personality; use 急躁 or 棱角分明 for a sharp-edged character

Origin & History

阝(hill/mound radical) + 走 (walk) — suggesting a sharply rising slope

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal