海拔

• Pinyin: hǎi bá
• Hanzi breakdown: 海 = sea, used as baseline reference; 拔 = 手 (hand) + 犮 — to pull upward, to rise above

Meaning

Altitude above sea level; elevation.

A precise geographic and scientific term for the vertical distance of a location above mean sea level. Essential in meteorology, aviation, mountaineering, and urban planning. High-altitude effects (低氧、寒冷) are often discussed in relation to 高海拔 (high altitude).

Examples

1. 西藏地区平均海拔超过四千米，初到此地的旅客容易出现高原反应。 Tibet has an average elevation of over 4,000 meters, and travelers who arrive for the first time often experience altitude sickness.
2. 这座气象站建在海拔三千五百米的山顶，用于监测高空气象数据。 This weather station was built on a mountaintop at an elevation of 3,500 meters to monitor high-altitude meteorological data.
3. 城市的海拔高度对当地的气候类型和农业结构有着深远的影响。 A city’s elevation has a profound impact on its local climate and agricultural structure.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, science, travel, aviation

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 飞机在海拔一万米的高空巡航，旅客须保持安全带系紧。(The aircraft cruises at an altitude of ten thousand metres — passengers should keep their seatbelts fastened.)
• 高海拔地区的建筑施工需要特殊的材料和工艺，以应对低氧和极寒环境。(Construction at high altitude requires special materials and techniques to cope with low oxygen and extreme cold.)

Don't Say

• 这栋楼海拔很高 — 海拔 refers to distance above sea level, not building height; say 这栋楼很高 or 楼层很高

Origin & History

海 (sea) + 拔 (to pull up, to raise) — raised distance from sea level

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal