滑梯

• Pinyin: huá tī
• Hanzi breakdown: 滑 = 氵+ 骨 (slide); 梯 = 木 + 弟 (ladder)

Meaning

A playground slide; a smooth inclined surface for children to slide down.

Primarily refers to playground slides. Can be used metaphorically to describe a swift downward trend in data, performance, or economic indicators.

Examples

1. 公园里的滑梯旁边总是聚集着很多小朋友。 There are always lots of little kids gathered around the slide in the park.
2. 孩子们排队等着从滑梯上溜下来。 The children lined up, waiting for their turn to slide down.
3. 这次股市的走势像滑梯一样急速下跌。 This stock market trend has dropped as fast as a slide.

Usage Guide

Context: children, recreation, metaphor

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 她小时候最喜欢玩滑梯和秋千。(When she was little, she loved slides and swings most.)
• 新建成的游乐场有三座不同高度的滑梯。(The newly built playground has three slides of different heights.)

Don't Say

• 滑梯 to mean 'escalator' — use 自动扶梯 for escalators; 滑梯 is exclusively a playground slide

Origin & History

滑 (slide/slippery) + 梯 (ladder/steps)

Cultural Context

Generation: Children and parents

Social background: Universal